Dialogue is the only way to settle issues between two nuclear-armed neighbours and India will have to change its thinking and return to the negotiating table with Pakistan, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said today.
Qureshi made the remarks while talking to the media on the sidelines of a function at a university in his hometown of Multan. He said the Indian leadership, particularly Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, had positive thinking but progress in the dialogue process is slow because of "internal politics and pressure groups".
Singh knew the region and its economic requirements, he said. "It is our desire that political forces should support his positive thinking to resolve issues between Pakistan and India," he added.
Qureshi further said the US understands that "Pakistan will be more focused on tackling terrorism when it has no worries on its eastern border with India. And that is why the US desires Pakistan and India should resume dialogue."
Relations between Pakistan and India are suspended and there is no likelihood of progress in back channel diplomacy, Qureshi remarked. Replying to a question on differences over sharing river waters, he said Pakistan is taking all possible steps on this issue with India.
Pakistan has suggested an Indus Waters Treaty-like agreement with Afghanistan during Afghan President Hamid Karzai's recent visit to Islamabad to negate chances of any water-related problems between the two countries, he said.
In response to another question, he said Saudi Arabia is a brotherly country and the Saudi King and the people loved the Pakistani people. "Pakistan will have no objections, and rather it will be happy, if Saudi Arabia plays a role to resolve issues between Pakistan and India," he added.
Noting that the people of Pakistan and India want peace, Qureshi sought a positive change in India's attitude towards the dialogue process so that both countries can pay more attention to the development and welfare of their citizens.
