LAHORE - Ruling out the possibility of war between the neighbouring countries, former foreign minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri has said that India was well aware of the fact that dialogue was the only option to resolve the outstanding issues.

Speaking at a sitting on “Future of Pak-India relations with special reference to Pakistan’s Foreign Policy” at TECH Club yesterday, he said that Indian Army has conveyed to Narendra Modi that war against Pakistan should not be an option.

Former Minister of State Qayyum Nizami, Manzoor Ahmed Sheikh, Dr Muhammad Sadiq, Jameel Gishkori and Zubair Sheikh also spoke at the sitting.

Kasuri said India was well aware that war with a nuclear power was not the right option.

“We possess tactical nuclear weapons. These can be used on a small scale on home soil against invading forces. Opposing army is aware of capabilities of our forces and available resources. As such India will not opt for waging a war,” he added.

He said that India created war hysteria and its claims of surgical strike were aimed at pleasing people at home. He said that India used Uri incident to divert attention from ongoing indigenous freedom movement in the Occupied Kashmir.

However, he admitted that India was far ahead of Pakistan on diplomatic front. “We don’t have even full-fledged foreign minister. How a prime minister can give time to the foreign office is a big question. Even Sartaj Aziz has not free hand to run the affairs as Tariq Fatemi is also there. To counter Indian aggressive diplomatic war is a big challenge. We are not presenting our cases in a better way. We don’t even have a lobbyist to protect our interests in the US Congress”, he said.

He stressed the need of improving economy and governance at home, acquiring modern technology and reframing foreign policy with aggressive diplomacy in the larger interest of Pakistan. Referring to the Indian threats of stopping water to Pakistan, he said that any attempt would be tantamount to declaration of war.

“Revoking treaty is not that easy. There are laws regarding rights of the countries on upper and lower riparian. Moreover, it is practically impossible for India to stop water as its own territory will submerge”, he said.

To a question, Kasuri said Pakistan was trying to have better relations with Afghanistan through better border management. “We can’t afford Afghanistan going to the Indian lap. We will have to make serious efforts to address the grievances of Afghanistan regarding attacks of non state actors. The issue can be resolved through better border management”, he added.

Qayyum Nizami said that trust deficit was the main reason behind soured relations between the neighbouring nuclear powers. “Unfortunately India is over ambitious and trying to handle all neighbouring countries aggressively. Had Pakistan not been a nuclear state, India will have attacked. Pakistani nation is fully supporting and standing shoulder to shoulder with Pakistan Army”, he said.