Ties with neighbours improving, says Kasuri

KASUR—Foreign Minister Khurshid MahmoodKasuri has said that Pakistan’s relations with neighbouringcountries including India were improving while trade was also increasing with these countries.
“Back door channel negotiations are continued with Indiato resolve Kashmir issue,” he said during a public meeting andlater taking to news persons here on Saturday. He said that the government had not neglected the Kashmirissue and no solution of the issue would be accepted against the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
He said that early solution of Kashmir issue was in the best interests of Pakistan and India. He added that India, Pakistan and Kashmiris have to show flexibility to resolve this long standing dispute.
Talking about Pakistan nuclear programme, the foreign minster said that Pakistan will never compromise on nuclear programme nor would allow disturbance of balance of power in South Asia.
“If India is ready to sign NPT then Pakistan will also sign it,” he said. Pakistan’s relations with America are based on mutual interests and both the countries intends to maintain peace in the world.
“Islamabad has cordial relations with America and China also,” he said. “ Neither any one can dare to dictate Pakistan nor the government will accept any dictation,” he said.
Kasuri said that Pakistan wants development and stability in Afghanistan and taking practical steps in this regard. He further said that record development projects worthbillions of rupees have been executed in Kasur district.
Several development schemes are in the pipeline and efforts on to complete them for the welfare of peopleof the area, he said.
The minister said that Kasur-Lahore dual carriageway project costing Rs 4 billion is in final stage and it would help the trade activities in Kasur and Lahore. He said that construction work on `Rohi nulla’ project would start soon.
Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri has accepted the invitation to attend meeting of member countries of Alliance of Civilization on the occasion of 62nd session of UN General Assembly.
Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos extended the invitationduring his telephonic conversation with Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri on Saturday.
Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri during the conversation with the Spanish Foreign Minister said that Pakistan is playing its role to bring peace, prosperity and development in the world as it believes on the negotiations instead of clash of civilization.
Emphasizing the need for removing the misperceptions between West and Islam, the Foreign Minister said that Pakistan would participate in the meeting to be held on the sidelines of session of UN General Assembly.
The Spanish Foreign Minister praised the role rendered by Pakistan for bringing peace and stability in the world and said that Spain want to formulate such a strategy from the platform of the UN which remove misunderstanding between Islamic and Unislamic countries and brings sustainable peace in the world. It would be vital to create harmony among different civilizations of the world, added by Spanish Foreign Minister.