Pakistan has ruled out any imminent talks with India due to the absence of a proper “environment” for a “successful, constructive dialogue”. According to the news agency Thursday PTI report good.
The foreign official was asked about the talks regarding the proposal by the new government and the appointment of trade minister in India Delhi, Iftikhar said there was a national consensus on the issue and successive governments had adopted a similar policy of seeking a peaceful settlement of disputes with India.
He said, ‘You never shut the doors in diplomacy.’ Iftikhar said that despite of Pakistan Desire for diplomatic settlement of disputes, “not an environment for fruitful, constructive dialogue.”
The statement comes despite India repeatedly telling Pakistan that it wants normal neighborly relations with Islamabad in an environment free of terror, hostility and violence. India has said that it is the responsibility of Pakistan to create an environment free from terrorism and enmity.
Hopes for a revival of talks between the two countries were rekindled after Pakistan decided to appoint a trade minister at its High Commission in New Delhi after more than two years.
However, the commerce ministry in a statement on Thursday denied any change in the trade policy towards India.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi had exchanged messages after he was elected as the former prime minister to replace Imran Khan.
Soon after being elected as the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Sharif had raised the issue of abrogation of Article 370 in Kashmir in his inaugural speech. He expressed his desire for better relations with India but linked it to the Kashmir issue.
“We want good relations with India but lasting peace is not possible until the Kashmir dispute is resolved,” he said.
Relations between India and Pakistan had strained after the 2016 terror attack on the Pathankot Air Force Base by terror groups based in the neighboring country. Subsequent attacks, including an attack on an Indian Army camp in Uri, further soured the relationship.
Relations deteriorated in August 2019 after India announced the withdrawal of the special powers of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcation of the state into two union territories.
India’s move to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 angered Pakistan, which downgraded diplomatic ties and expelled the Indian High Commissioner to Islamabad. It also cut off all air and land links with India and suspended trade and railway services.
(with inputs from agencies)