ISLAMABAD - Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on Saturday said that Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj issued a statement about India’s desire of developing good relations with Pakistan only to please US President Barack Obama.
Talking to a private news channel, Aziz said India’s role in the region was not hidden from anyone, adding that Pakistan doesn’t feel the need to officially respond immediately. He said the dialogue process can only be resumed from where it was called off. Aziz said that Pakistan is desirous of dialogue and good relations but, he said, it has to be based on mutual respect.
He said dialogue process can only be advanced by talking on basic issues and that Pakistan never avoided negotiations unlike India.
Aziz said that India has always influenced the dialogue process. He asked the US to play its role in resolution of the basic issues.
Earlier, Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said that India is desirous of beginning a new era of relations with neighbouring countries including Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Sushma Swaraj said that peace maintenance with the neighboring countries including Pakistan was a foremost priority of India. The Indian FM invited both Pakistan and Bangladesh to initiate new phase of goodwill relations based on mutual cooperation.
Furthermore, she added that talks between the countries should be in peaceful environment as there was no issue in the world which could not be resolved.