Pakistan won’t meddle in others’ affairs, says Aziz

PM’s adviser says Molla’s execution Bangladesh’s internal matter Kashmir not a Indo-Pak bilateral issue

Advisor to Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz Wednesday said the foreign policy of Pakistan was being formulated on the principles of non-interference and no favourites, especially regarding relations with the neighbours.

Speaking in the Senate he said improving relations with India was the priority of the government. The relations between Iran and United States are also improving. “The need is to devise a foreign policy which meets the needs of current scenario,” he said.

He said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s recent visit to Afghanistan had helped in removing misunderstanding between the two countries. “Unrest in Afghanistan does not suit Pakistan and it wants the Afghans to resolve their issues by themselves. Proxy war in Afghanistan must be avoided as it would further deteriorate the situation there,” he said.

The adviser said Kashmir was not a bilateral issue between Pakistan and India, adding that without solving Kashmir issue, the dream of durable peace, progress, prosperity and development in the region could not be materialised.

Speaking on the resolution passed by the National Assembly condemning the execution of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abdul Quader Molla, he said parliament is sovereign and has the authority to pass any resolution. “However, the Foreign Office has stated that Molla’s execution was an internal issue of Bangladesh. Bangladesh is a brotherly country of Pakistan and after 1971, it was agreed between us that we won’t relive the past,” he added.