Goa, India – Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the Foreign Minister of Pakistan, made a statement on Friday, emphasizing the desire for peace between India and Pakistan. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), Bilawal stated that New Delhi must create a “conducive environment” for talks between the neighbouring nations.
The visit of Bilawal to India marks the first visit by a Pakistani foreign minister to Delhi in over a decade and has garnered considerable media attention in both countries. India and Pakistan have been involved in three wars, have frosty relations, and have downgraded their diplomatic ties.
Bilawal placed the responsibility on India for creating an environment suitable for talks, stating that India’s decision to end the special status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 had undermined the atmosphere for holding discussions between the neighbours.
Despite his rare visit to India, there was no change in the status of diplomatic relations, according to the foreign minister. “India took illegal steps in August 2019 and violated the UN resolutions by its actions,” said the FM, reaffirming Pakistan’s clear and consistent stance on the Kashmir issue. He further highlighted that India’s “one-sided actions” had harmed the relationship between the two countries.
Bilawal further suggested that the political tension between India and Pakistan surrounding sports should be separated. He talked about the issues regarding Pakistan’s blind cricket team not being granted visas by India, questioning why India was afraid of their cricket team. He stated that he tried to confine Pakistan’s internal politics within its borders.
Bilawal also announced that when Pakistan assumes the chairmanship of SCO, it will be able to hold a successful meeting.
(Islamabad51-Newsdesk)
