Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, who held talks on Saturday with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, said the two countries shared the strategic objective of combating terror groups and Islamabad did not need any cajoling on the issue.
Hina also told reporters on the sidelines of an Asian security conference that she expected positive results from a meeting with her Indian counterpart next week, in what could be a major turning point in ties between the two countries since they resumed peace talks earlier this year. Asked if Clinton prodded her on tackling militants operating from within Pakistan, she said, “We have the same strategic objective.”
“Pakistan is the first one to suffer because of terrorism, because of militancy. Pakistan is doing it for itself. You don’t need cajoling on that, that is in our national interest.” On her talks with Indian Foreign Minister SM Krishna scheduled for next Wednesday in New Delhi, Hina said, “My expectation is to have positive development in our relationship with India.”
India: According to APP, she said the talks were a positive step and India was serious in the composite dialogue process. Talking to a private news channel, she said the priority of her government in the conference with India was to set a future direction in the bilateral relationship. Highlighting Pakistan’s position during the upcoming talks with India, she said the government wanted to “look at the entire picture and at the root causes of problems. It is Pakistan’s success to bring India back to the negotiating table,” she said.
She said Pakistan is pro-actively engaging with neighbouring countries, particularly Afghanistan and India, to achieve sustainable peace and stability in the region. To a question on the arrest of Kashmiri leader Ghulam Nabi Fai in the US on charges of working for Pakistani intelligence agencies, she said Fai was a US citizen and “he will be able to resolve his present problem within the available system.”
Look at the shared smiles on their faces. Both seem to be meeting each other after 30 years. Meeting with a senior aunty will surely inject lot of experience in Hina's future diplomatic outlook. Later she is also scheduled to visit India. I hope all these pleasant smiles are translated into good omen. Madam Hina go ahead and do something which others could not do on diplomatic front due to our stiff necks. Fresh blood can surely bring change in our robust thinking in the past. Impediments are there but just move ahead. God Bless you.
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