Talks with India on basis of equality: Pakistan

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan said Tuesday it would not accept any preconditions for talks with India and that these should be held on the basis of equality.

“We would not accept any conditions on a broad-based dialogue with India on Kashmir, water and other thorny issues,” Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said while briefing parliament’s committee on national security, adding: “The dialogue process must be held on the basis of equality.

He also said that Pakistan would not accept any conditions linking the talks to action against Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed, who India says masterminded the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, Online news agency reported.

“Pakistan has always desired purposeful dialogue with India to resolve outstanding issues, including the core issue of Kashmir,” Qureshi said.

“It was also agreed in Bhutan between the two prime ministers that dialogue is the only way forward,” he added, referring to the April 29 meeting in Thimphu on the sideline of the SAARC meeting.

Subsequently, Qureshi invited his Indian counterpart S.M. Krishna to Islamabad and the visit will take place July 15. Ahead of this, Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram is slated to visit Islamabad June 26 for a meeting of the SAARC home ministers.

During his briefing Tuesday, Qureshi hoped Krishna’s visit would pave the way for better understanding and harmony between the two countries and that fruitful results will emerge.

Qureshi also said the Kashmir issue was the cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy.

“We cannot be oblivious to it. But, we desire a peaceful resolution through dialogue. That is the only way forward,” he added.