July 11, 2024
2 mins read

Pakistan seeks improved ties with neighbours, including India

After becoming the Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Dar had called on India to reopen business and trade relations through confidence-building measures and table talks….reports Hamza Ameer

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has reiterated the ruling government’s willingness to mend ties with its neighbours, including India.

Highlighting it as one of the priorities of his government’s foreign policy, Dar mentioned about the consistent stance on improving ties with its neighbours during a briefing to the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs.

“Pakistan cannot change its neighbours. Therefore, it would be better to improve relations with the existing ones,” said the Foreign Minister.

Talking about relations with Afghanistan, Dar said that while Pakistan wishes to have better bilateral relations, it cannot ignore the fact that the recent attack on Chinese citizens in Pakistan was planned from across the border.

“Pakistan seeks positive relations with Afghanistan. The attack on the Chinese was not just a terrorist attack.. It was an attempt to damage Pakistan-China relations. Two incidents have damaged Pakistan and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was involved in both incidents. We demand that Afghanistan expel the TTP,” he mentioned.

While Dar refrained from mentioning India, he has been calling for improvement of relations with the neighbouring country. His indirect hint towards willingness to de-escalate and normalise relations with India during the latest briefing is not the first time such an intent has been shared publicly.

After becoming the Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Dar had called on India to reopen business and trade relations through confidence-building measures and table talks.

Dar’s statements on better relations with India were reiterated on various occasions, highlighting the ruling government’s optimism towards paving the way to restart channels of engagement with India.

He again highlighted the importance of better relations with the neighbours, including India and Afghanistan, during the briefing of the new committee, citing it as a part of Pakistan’s prioritised aspects of foreign policy which will lay emphasis on high-level engagements with strategic, traditional and regional partners and neighbours.

Experts say that Dar’s stance on relations with India and Afghanistan indicates a softer position of the democratic coalition government of Shehbaz Sharif towards the neighbouring countries. However, the government’s foreign policy stance may not get approval from the powerful military establishment.

“Pakistan’s relations with India are nowhere because of two reasons. First, India has clearly refused to revoke and reverse the Article 370 decision on Kashmir. And, secondly, Narendra Modi, during his recent election campaign, had made it clear that he has shut down the chapter on relations with Pakistan. In this scenario, I do not see much happening in the near future,” said senior political analyst Javed Siddique.

He stated that Pakistan’s current political setup is duty-bound to take the country’s military establishment into confidence before taking any step forward. Siddique added that the military is on the offensive against TTP and is threatening to even take out terrorists in Afghanistan.

“On the other hand, it (military) has no intent to engage with India if the Kashmir dispute is not settled. Therefore, the current government’s wish to engage with India and Afghanistan may not get a positive signal from the military establishment,” said Siddique.

ALSO READ: PM Modi Seeks Austrian Investments

Previous Story

Radhika Merchant Dazzles in Yellow Ensemble at Haldi Function

Next Story

Bangladesh becomes 5th member of Colombo Security Conclave

Latest from -Top News

Violence against children hit unprecedented levels

In Somalia, it reported 2,568 violations against 1,992 children.In Nigeria, 2,436 grave violations were reported against 1,037 children The UN kept Israeli forces on its blacklist of countries that violate children’s rights

Japan Cancels U.S. Talks

The cancellation also coincides with Japan’s upcoming upper house elections on July 20, which are expected to test Ishiba’s fragile minority coalition Japan has cancelled a planned high-level security meeting with the

Modi calls Yoga a journey from ‘me’ to ‘we’

PM Modi showered praise on the Andhra Pradesh government for hosting this year’s national celebrations, commending Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan for their leadership. Prime Minister

UK unites for Yoga Day

Celebrations held across iconic landmarks and campuses under theme ‘One Earth, One Health’ The Indian diaspora and local communities across the United Kingdom gathered in large numbers on Friday to mark the

Kenya’s Odinga Slams Adani Deal U-Turn

Before the cancellation of the deal, Odinga was among the leaders who defended the Adani Group….reports Asian Lite News Kenya’s former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Friday expressed disappointment over the cancellation
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Thailand Softens Stance on Rice Dispute, Replaces WTO Envoy

India objects to Thai WTO remarks on subsidized rice…reports Asian

2023 will be a testing year for BJP and opposition

The elections in J&K would be significant too as these