Haqqani's advice to Pakistan: Stop 'competing' with India

Former ambassador says there is anxiety in Pakistan every time India moves forward in getting international stature

Former Pakistani ambassador to the United States Husain Haqqani on Saturday advised Pakistan to stop ‘constantly competing’ with India and start focusing on its own welfare, NDTV reported.

"There is anxiety in Pakistan about everything that puts India at the centre on a global stage," Haqqani said, while responding to a question whether Indian anxiety in Pakistan was linked to the G4 summit where India pitched for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council.

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Haqqani further said he did not agree with Pakistan’s attitude towards India. “And those attitudes are that India is a permanent enemy and the solution of Kashmir is key to any breakthrough between Pakistan and India,” he said.

Commenting on Pakistan’s attitude towards the G4 summit which was hosted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New York and included Brazil, Germany and Japan, the former ambassador said, “So when you have that attitude entrenched in Islamabad and more so in Rawalpindi, then obviously there will be anxiety every time that India moves forward in getting international stature and this is definitely one of those moments.”

“Personally, I would like Pakistan to focus more on putting those children in Pakistan who are out of school into school. Pakistan has one of the largest out of school populations in the world. Our literacy rate in 1947 was 16% and India’s was 18%. It was a 2% difference. It has now become a 22% difference,” he added.

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Further, Haqqani maintained Pakistan was being left behind while trying to compete with India. “What we should do is stop doing it and start focusing on our own welfare. But is that happening, no, and therefore, there will be anxiety as long as we continue to believe that Pakistan’s future lies in constant competition and rivalry with India. An unfortunate attitude but it is an attitude that exists.”

This article originally appeared on NDTV