Pakistan on Friday resolved to continue with its efforts aimed at improving relations with India but said that there would be no change in its principled stance on the core issue of Kashmir. Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar held important consultations at the Foreign Office with senior military and civilian officials from relevant official quarters on various foreign policy matters including ties with India and Pakistan-United States relations. With only a few days to go before the next SAARC summit scheduled to be held in Maldives on November 10-11 and where Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani will also meet Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the sidelines, the consultations at the Foreign Office were however, focused on Indo-Pak peace process.
“As part of regular consultations, Foreign Minister Khar consulted all stakeholders on foreign policy issues including the resumed dialogue process with India, at the Foreign Ministry,” a Foreign Office statement said. “Foreign Minister Khar since taking charge of the Foreign Ministry has been regularly interacting with all stakeholders on important foreign policy issues,” it said without mentioning the specific subjects that were deliberated upon.
An official requesting anonymity said the foreign minister discussed Pakistan’s agenda for the upcoming Indo-Pak prime ministers’ meeting. He quoted Khar as saying Pakistan would continue with its efforts for result-oriented talks with India but it expected the same response from the Indian side. The participants of meeting also discussed Pakistan’s decision to grant the status of the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) to India and they were of the view that the country’s interests must be safeguarded while giving the concession to India, said the official. “The foreign minister assured the meeting that the current government would not compromise on national interests as it attempts to expand trade ties with India. She made it clear Pakistan would not deviate from its stance on Kashmir,” the official said.
Another official, who also sought anonymity, said the ongoing efforts to repair the damaged Pakistan-US relations were discussed. He said senior officials from different ministries and military authorities were of the view that Pakistan was willing to play a role in the ongoing reconciliation process between Kabul and the Taliban but it would not opt for more military operations in the tribal areas.”
