Pakistan ready to talk with India for regional peace: FM Qureshi

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Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi addresses a press conference at Serena Hotel in Kabul on January 7, 2009. Qureshi said the new Pakistan government wanted good relations with its neighbours, including Afghanistan and India. A declaration signed after talks Tuesday between Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari was a "watershed in bilateral relations," he said. AFP PHOTO/Massoud HOSSAINI

MULTAN: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Friday said Pakistan was ready to hold talks with India after the elections for the sake of regional peace.

Expressing Pakistan’s commitment towards peace, the foreign minister said the opening of Kartarpur corridor and release of the Indian pilot without imposing any condition should speak for itself.

“India is geographically linked with Pakistan through a common border, weather conditions, culture, language and rivers,” the FM said, adding said that India and Pakistan could coexist peacefully and move forward to resolve all their disputes.

He said that war always brings destruction and cannot be considered as an option, particularly when both countries are nuclear forces.

The FM said that Kashmir was burning and India was trying to suppress the voice of Kashmiris through military presence and its black laws. However, he added, the voice of Kashmiris could not be suppressed in the modern electronic and Internet era.

He also declared ex-finance minister Asad Umar a prominent face of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and its frontman.

Talking to media in Multan, Qureshi said that he doesn’t know why Prime Minister Imran Khan took a decision to remove Asad Umar from the post. He said there was no grouping within the party and whoever replaces Asad Umar will have to face challenges, he said.

Earlier following the change in portfolios of ministers, PTI Member National Assembly (MNA) Asad Umar left his job as the finance minister of Pakistan.

The PTI leader said that he conducted a detailed meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan after his proposal of reshuffling of the cabinet.

“I convinced the premier to allow me to step down from the cabinet,” he said. “I thank Imran Khan for inviting me to join PTI and to put his trust in me. My support will always be PTI which will make naya Pakistan.