New Delhi: Pakistan’s foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi boasted that Prime Minister Imran Khan’s “googly” had forced the Indian government to send its ministers across the border for engagement despite its reservations.
“The entire world saw, Pakistan saw that that yesterday Imran Khan threw the Kartarpur googly at India. What was the result? India, which was hesitant to engage, had to send across two of their ministers,” he said at the 100-day celebration event for the Imran Khan government.
The boast was met with loud cheers by the audience, which had the Pakistan premier too seated on the front seat.
The Pakistan foreign minister accepted that peace with India was “our requirement” and said it has been the policy of the current administration since it came to power in August this year.
“Imran Khan told India, you take one step, we’ll take two. As a step towards engagement, we decided to meet in New York in September (on the sidelines of UNGA meet). I don’t know why it was called off. I wouldn’t say that Sushma (Swaraj) felt shy, but their government became a hurdle,” he said.
Qureshi’s remarks fly in the face of the India’s stand that the Kartarpur corridor ceremony should not be construed as engagement and there would be no dialogue until it stops terror outfits operating from its soil.
While responding to questions on India’s concerns, the Pakistan PM had on Thursday said his government should not be held responsible for the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks as it has inherited the problem. “My government can’t be held responsible for this. One should learn from history, not live in it,” he told reporters.
Khan added that he could say in all earnestness that it is not in Pakistan’s interest to allow its soil to be used for terror outside.
Pakistan has been pushing for dialogue with India as its seeks to benefit from bilateral trade, but New Delhi has been cautious, and has been justified in doing so as Khan and his ministers have repeatedly raked up the Kahsmir issue even during the Kartarpur foundation-laying ceremony.
PTI
