ahlam1399
06-28-2016, 04:02 AM
Says our national identity is to hate someone; Pakistan can’t conquer Kashmir; only way forward is dialogue with India on the issue
ISLAMABAD: Former foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar on Sunday said that Pakistan's current foreign policy was reactive and **t active as Pakistan was **t taking its own line or direction but was only reacting to the circumstances arising in the region or world at large.
"In 60 years, we have taught our children that our national identity is to hate someone, and we are doing it with those who are physically the nearest. Hostile with India and **w hostile with Afghanistan," she said.
She said that Pakistan could **t ‘conquer Kashmir through war’ and progress on the issue could only be made in an environment of mutual trust with India.
"I believe that Pakistan can**t conquer Kashmir through war and if we can**t do that, the option we are left with is dialogue, and dialogue can only proceed with a partner with which we have **rmal relations and a certain level of mutual trust," the former minister said in an interview with Geo News programme ‘Jirga’ hosted by Salim Saafi.
She claimed that the PPP government, despite being a coalition government, had tried its best to **rmalise ties with India through relaxation of visa rules and by **rmalising trade ties. "The issues between the two countries can**t be resolved in a hostile environment," she said.
Khar, who remained Pakistan's foreign minister from 2011 to 2013, maintained that the Kashmir issue could be resolved, "if we continue to talk on the issue, then we will reach somewhere".
Answering a question regarding the military influence on Pakistan's foreign policy, the former foreign minister said that it was a diplomat's job to carry forward the military's perspective on issues where ‘the military is a relevant stakeholder.’
She said some people believed that the issue could only be resolved, "if there is a BJP government in India and a military government in Pakistan". She observed that Musharraf gave India adequate relaxation on the Kashmir issue during his tenure.
She said the US tilt towards India was driven by eco**my, market and because of a wish to contain the rising power of China. "**w let us ask ourselves, is US moving towards India because India is a nuclear state, or because it is a military power, **, it is people power and their democratic traditions, if we want to compete, let’s compete on these grounds," she said.
She termed Pakistan's entry into Afghan Jihad a 'mistake' and maintained that Pakistan's dependence on US was more in "our minds than on the ground". She termed it Zia's mistake for helping the US in the 80s, and added Musharraf had ** option when it came to helping the US in 2001.
Criticising the approach and the performance of ministry of foreign affairs, she asked if the foreign ****** had turned into a political ******. "The foreign ****** is busy **wadays in apprising the nation about some country's leader sending flowers to the prime minister or inquiring after his health," said Khar. Summing up her answer, she maintained that the basic objective of Pakistan's foreign policy should be to serve the people of the country and **t the pursuit of power.
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/com/YEor/~4/PuW8EuWb8Sk
أكثر... (http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/com/YEor/~3/PuW8EuWb8Sk/131256-Pak-foreign-policy-is-reactive-**t-active-Khar)
ISLAMABAD: Former foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar on Sunday said that Pakistan's current foreign policy was reactive and **t active as Pakistan was **t taking its own line or direction but was only reacting to the circumstances arising in the region or world at large.
"In 60 years, we have taught our children that our national identity is to hate someone, and we are doing it with those who are physically the nearest. Hostile with India and **w hostile with Afghanistan," she said.
She said that Pakistan could **t ‘conquer Kashmir through war’ and progress on the issue could only be made in an environment of mutual trust with India.
"I believe that Pakistan can**t conquer Kashmir through war and if we can**t do that, the option we are left with is dialogue, and dialogue can only proceed with a partner with which we have **rmal relations and a certain level of mutual trust," the former minister said in an interview with Geo News programme ‘Jirga’ hosted by Salim Saafi.
She claimed that the PPP government, despite being a coalition government, had tried its best to **rmalise ties with India through relaxation of visa rules and by **rmalising trade ties. "The issues between the two countries can**t be resolved in a hostile environment," she said.
Khar, who remained Pakistan's foreign minister from 2011 to 2013, maintained that the Kashmir issue could be resolved, "if we continue to talk on the issue, then we will reach somewhere".
Answering a question regarding the military influence on Pakistan's foreign policy, the former foreign minister said that it was a diplomat's job to carry forward the military's perspective on issues where ‘the military is a relevant stakeholder.’
She said some people believed that the issue could only be resolved, "if there is a BJP government in India and a military government in Pakistan". She observed that Musharraf gave India adequate relaxation on the Kashmir issue during his tenure.
She said the US tilt towards India was driven by eco**my, market and because of a wish to contain the rising power of China. "**w let us ask ourselves, is US moving towards India because India is a nuclear state, or because it is a military power, **, it is people power and their democratic traditions, if we want to compete, let’s compete on these grounds," she said.
She termed Pakistan's entry into Afghan Jihad a 'mistake' and maintained that Pakistan's dependence on US was more in "our minds than on the ground". She termed it Zia's mistake for helping the US in the 80s, and added Musharraf had ** option when it came to helping the US in 2001.
Criticising the approach and the performance of ministry of foreign affairs, she asked if the foreign ****** had turned into a political ******. "The foreign ****** is busy **wadays in apprising the nation about some country's leader sending flowers to the prime minister or inquiring after his health," said Khar. Summing up her answer, she maintained that the basic objective of Pakistan's foreign policy should be to serve the people of the country and **t the pursuit of power.
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/com/YEor/~4/PuW8EuWb8Sk
أكثر... (http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/com/YEor/~3/PuW8EuWb8Sk/131256-Pak-foreign-policy-is-reactive-**t-active-Khar)