Pakistan ready to hold talks with India on terrorism

ISLAMABAD, Apr 22: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi Wednesday said Pakistan was ready to hold talks with India on terrorism to widen anti-terrorism mechanism. Talking to OneWorld he said,”We are ready to talk as to how it can be made more effective and as to how we can solidify mutual trust on this issue”.

Good intentions may make their way themselves, he maintained.

Talking about foreign policy he said present government is an elected government and was trying to incorporate people’s opinion in the foreign policy.

He further said the government was trying to reshape Foreign policy as national strategy and trying to build consensus for it.

When quizzed about drone attacks he said Pakistan had asked US to review their drone attacks policy as collateral damages are more than achievements.

Almost a national consensus has developed on this issue and every segment of our society conveyed the US officials that drone attacks are not proving fruitful in this war, he maintained.

He said,”I think they are convinced of it now.When we proceed to Washington,we will talk on this issue too”.

Foreign Minister said US realizes Pakistan’s importance,role and performance in the war against terrorism,adding they cannot achieve their targets until Pakistan supports them.

He said the government had decided to evolve a media strategy to project true face of Islam world over.”We should improve our media strategy to convey our message to the people of the world more precisely”.

While talking about his agenda for his US visit next month he said Pakistan is trying to get US realize that they should acknowledge Pakistan’s role in the war on terror.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi said they should keep Pakistan’s significance in sight,because they cannot achieve their targets without Islamabad’s support. (APP)