Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari categorically stated that there will be no talks with India until its unilateral action on Kashmir is withdrawn, reported the 24NewsHD TV channel.
He was addressing a press conference in Karachi on Friday evening after returning from India where he attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting held in Goa. In his presser, he highlights the key points of his visit. He termed his visit to India successful.
He said Pakistan put forward its stance regarding the Kashmir issue before the SCO’s members besides saying there was no change in the country’s position in terms of the Kashmir dispute. He said various meaningful points were raised in the SCO’s moot and also revealed the propaganda of India to sideline Muslims.
Bilawal said hatred against Muslims is on the rise in India and it also wants to show me [Bilawal Bhutto] as a terrorist as he fought Pakistan's case on Indian soil in the SCO meeting. He said the head money of him was announced in India but he did not step back in his stance.
Bhutto added, “I believe that when the son of Shaheed Mohatarma Benazir Bhutto’s son sits before them, no matter how much they try to level such allegations, this is a reply enough for them.”
He said India has a pain on the project of CPEC as Central Asian countries want to be part of it.
The foreign minister said his party, the PPP, forwarded Hindu candidates for provincial and federal legislatures who went on to become ministers, adding that he was “surprised” to learn that the Bharatiya Janata Party had no Muslim candidate despite India having one of the biggest Muslim population in the world.
Responding to the question regarding the criticism of the Indian external minister, he said the Indian minister was representing the sentiment of the BJP which promotes policies against Muslims, and added the Indian ruling party even wanted to declare him a ‘terrorist’.
The FM stressed that the SCO’s member nations have accepted the sacrifices of Pakistan due to terrorism while adding the BJP was trying to label every Muslim as a terrorist.
Talking about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, he said all member nations, except India, acknowledged the potential of the CPEC adding the central Asian states wanted to become part of CPEC.
Mentioning the need to improve bilateral relations, he said unless India changed its position regarding Kashmir (adopting article 370-A), no meaningful discussion could be held.
Bhutto emphasized the need for sustained dialogue between India and Pakistan to address the outstanding issues and promote regional peace and stability.
He also reiterated Pakistan's commitment to the Kashmir cause and called for the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions.
Bhutto's remarks were significant in the context of the current regional dynamics, with tensions between India and Pakistan remaining high.