India should return to negotiating table: Qureshi

Rezaul H Laskar
Islamabad, Apr 24 (PTI) Dialogue is the only way to
settle issues between two nuclear-armed neighbours and India
will have to change its thinking and return to the negotiating
table with Pakistan, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood
Qureshi said on Saturday.
Qureshi made the remarks while talking to the media on
the sidelines of a function at a university in his hometown of
Multan.
He said the Indian leadership, particularly Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh, had positive thinking but progress in
the dialogue process is slow because of "internal politics and
pressure groups".
Singh knew the region and its economic requirements,
he said.
"It is our desire that political forces should support
his positive thinking to resolve issues between Pakistan and
India," he added.
Qureshi further said the US understands that "Pakistan
will be more focused on tackling terrorism when it has no
worries on its eastern border with India. And that is why the
US desires Pakistan and India should resume dialogue."
Relations between Pakistan and India are suspended and
there is no likelihood of progress in back channel diplomacy,
Qureshi remarked.
Replying to a question on differences over sharing
river waters, he said Pakistan is taking all possible steps on
this issue with India.
Pakistan has suggested an Indus Waters Treaty-like
agreement with Afghanistan during Afghan President Hamid
Karzai's recent visit to Islamabad to negate chances of any
water-related problems between the two countries, he said.
In response to another question, he said Saudi Arabia
is a brotherly country and the Saudi King and the people loved
the Pakistani people.
"Pakistan will have no objections, and rather it will
be happy, if Saudi Arabia plays a role to resolve issues
between Pakistan and India," he added.
Noting that the people of Pakistan and India want
peace, Qureshi sought a positive change in India's attitude
towards the dialogue process so that both countries can pay
more attention to the development and welfare of their
citizens. PTI RHL
PRS


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