Tensions with India will not affect relations with Afghanistan

Pakistan-India relations, in times like these, are sour. The dialogues recently turned bitter after Indian government took the decision to change the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.

However, Pakistan said it is ready to open Kartarpur Corridor.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that Islamabad is ready to open the Kartarpur Corridor.

“Despite tensions with India, Pakistan stands ready to open the Kartarpur Corridor and welcome the Sikh pilgrims to the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak,“ Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi gave the statement during his address to the delegation of civil society and parliamentarians of Afghanistan, who are currently in Islamabad for the Track-II dialogue – Beyond Boundaries.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that despite the fact that there are tensions with India, relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan will also not get affected.

“Border with Afghanistan will not be closed nor trade will stop. Why should Afghans suffer because of the idiosyncratic behaviour of Narendra Modi,“ Shah Mehmood Qureshi said.

“Despite tensions with India, Pakistan is totally focused on the situation and its role in Afghanistan. The Kashmir situation can be a huge distraction but we are very clear what we need to do in Afghanistan,” Shah Mehmood Qureshi added.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that Pakistan had no favourites for the elections in Afghanistan, urging that Islamabad wants good neighbourly relations with Afghanistan and peaceful co-existence.

“We have no favourites in the upcoming elections. It is not our business who governs Afghanistan. We will not interfere. Whomever Afghanistan will choose, we will work with them,”Shah Mehmood Qureshi said.

“It is foolish to think we can trick each other,” Shah Mehmood Qureshi said, maintaining that both countries need to stop blaming each other with accusatory statements.

Giving priority to an “Afghan-owned and Afghan-led“ solution for Afghan peace, Shah Mehmood Qureshi said, “Pakistan will support intra-Afghan dialogue.”

Shah Mehmood Qureshi also stated that foreign ministers of China and Afghanistan will be visiting Pakistan during first week of September for brief talks on Afghan peace and reconciliation process.