Hina Rabbani Khar, Pakistan's Minister for Foreign Affairs speaks on stage at the Council for Foreign Relations in New York, January 16, 2013. PHOTO: REUTERS
“Instead of issuing belligerent statements by the military and political leaders from across the border and ratcheting up tension, it is advisable for the two countries to discuss all concerns related to Line of Control (LoC) with a view to reinforcing respect for the ceasefire, may be at the level of the Foreign Ministers to sort out things,” she said in a statement released on Wednesday.
“Pakistan and India are both important countries of South Asia. It is imperative that they demonstrate requisite responsibility for ensuring peace by addressing all concerns through dialogue.”
Khar said that rhetoric and ratcheting up of tensions is counter-productive.
“We are saddened and disappointed at the continued negative statements emanating from India both from the media as well as certain Indian leaders.”
The foreign minister said that Pakistan has observed a measured and deliberate self-restraint, especially in public statements on India. “This has been done keeping in view the interest of peace in the region.”
“We have invested hugely in the dialogue process and have worked energetically to keep the dialogue process moving forward in a sustained and constructive manner,” she said, adding that “Pakistan has gone out of the way to build constructive relationship with India.”
“Continued tension along the LoC is not in the interest of peace and stability in the region.”
Tensions have flared in the past week after three Pakistani soldiers and two Indian soldiers were killed after India started construction of posts near the LoC, in violation of the ceasefire. Things have not cooled despite a brigadier level meeting between troops on both sides on Sunday. But statements from the Indian army chief and another Pakistani soldier was killed in cross border firings on Tuesday night.
However, militaries on both sides came out on Wednesday with a public desire to de-escalate tensions.
COMMENTS (14)
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well slogans and reality and preaches are different....she is in America, otherwise shouting here or across the boarder
@G M Patra, @Alex: What utter rubbish, India just committed unprovoked aggression against Pakistan across the LoC and is now lying to the world, all the while it is rejecting all offers of independent investigations because it is the one who has something to hide, not Pakistan. The likes of you do not get to lecture Pakistan on what it should and shouldn't do. India.
@G M Patra: The fact that the US govt had to announce a reward to produce evidence admissible in a court of law against Hafiz Saeed means you are in no position to brandish his name to run a charade of your country being an innocent victim.
@Alex: Pakistan would love to mind its own business if India stops attacking it all the time. Obviously you are the one who is misinformed. The problem isn't Pakistan or its army, the problem is India and Indians like yourself.
Foreign office, for what reasons you are bending over again & again?? This is not diplomacy, its height of shamelessness! Don't you people value deaths of our own army personals? Tit for tat is the only solution, keep hunting if anyone came into sight. Please spare civilians and don't behead AFTER killing!!
ALL LOC related issues? There are only 4 LOC-related issues: beheading of Lance Naik Hemraj Singh, entering Indian territory to carry out "revenge", indiscriminate firing by Pakistan to push infiltrators along LOC and landmines. . All of this comes under the Pak army. What credibility will your words have with India and most importantly with the Pak army? . Again, nice try to push and internationalize your Kashmir agenda, but nobody is believing you. Pakistan still hasn't given a convincing answer on why Osama was holed up in Abbotabad for so long. . After your recent CNN interview, nobody in India takes your talk of peace seriously. Did you seriously think that we would fail to notice?
What is the use of such meetings?
They have no power. Had enough photo ops.
End all relations until sanity prevails and people who have real power begin to talk honestly with pragmatic approach.
Pakistan Border Forces should stop assisting their assets from crossing the LOC into India. What do they expect Indians to do when they detect such crossing attempts? Sit and talk.
India has a foreign minister with large bureaucrats and a cabinet, going back even before PAK came into being but does PAK have one ?
Which foreign ministry of PAK and with whom should India talk to. Ms. Khar and Mr. Kurshid -are they even equal partners in dialogue?
I wonder if her office will even be in existence when she returns to PAK. Someone should remind PAK bureaucrats that they are talking to audience in the US that they are not in the PAK.
Too much talk and no action !
With Pakistani politicians, it is always about excellent conveyance of lies with a straight face (pretty good acting), too much lip service / posturing, devoid of any concrete thought process or intent behind it.
All conversations in Pakistan can perhaps be described as 80-15-5 with 80% straight lies, 15% convoluted partial truths and remaining lie and 5% truth. It is impossible to say when you are hearing that 5%. If coming out of a politician's mouth, we can be certain which % it lies in.
Acknowledge and apologize for the beheading first. Rhetorics can come after that.
I agree with you Ayesha. I think our ancestor were not fools you never take Hindu out of Indian mentality. Pakistan should focus on trade with other nations and forget the narrow minded Hindu state and forget about Indian obsession it is not worth it. Jinnah was not a fool I have to admit if he can't live them how can we lesser mortals. He was with Giants like Mahatma Gandhi etc. he still didn't see any hope.
Good woman. Thats the power of democracy...the problems will not go away until Pak Govt has its army by its neck and in control. Until then India will be seen the culprit by the misinformed Pak citizens. The message to Pakistan by Indians has always been..FIRST keep your country and army in control and then come for talks. Is that too much to ask????
India should not talk with Pakistan unless Pakistan starts implementing things it has already agreed so far already.
How can India keep forgetting that Pakistan still protect Daud Ibrahim and Hafiz Saeed?
Most stylish female politician of Pakistan. Carries herself so well without any western clothing.
Oh please spare us the horror,let's end all relations with India,We have got a lot of problems in our country,let's tackle them first,We will think of our relations with India later when there is something called peace and stability here...No ''Aman Ka Tamasha'' anymore.. I hope my comment gets published..