SRINAGAR: After his Saudi visit, Pakistan Prime Minister, Imran Khan, has ruled out the possibility of talks with India until Delhi reverses its August 5, 2019, decision, reports appearing in Pakistani media suggest.
“Unless India retreats from the steps taken on August 5, the Pakistani government will not talk to India at all,” Khan is reported to have in a live broadcast session.
His Foreign Minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, however, has asserted that Pakistan will engage with India through a third party. He has ruled out any formal bilateral engagement at the moment.
“Pakistan is ready for third-party facilitation. It is India that has always shied away from it,” Qureshi told a news conference, according to The Daily Times “Saudi Arabia is a friend of Pakistan and it also has business ties with India, which is a big importer of Saudi oil. If Saudi Arabia wants to play a role (in facilitating talks), we will welcome.”
The foreign minister confirmed that there were ‘no formal talks’ going on at the moment with India, however, he added that if India wants it to make it happen, it ‘must take one step forward. “If India wants a meaningful dialogue with Pakistan, it has to review its policy on Kashmir and undo the revocation of their special status,” the newspaper quoted Qureshi saying.
