Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified that newly-appointed Pakistani Foreign Minister SM Qureshi, on Sunday 19 August did not say that “the Indian Prime Minister had made an offer of a dialogue”, as was reported earlier by Indian media.
The clarification reasserted that Qureshi had only said that PM Narendra Modi, in his letter to Pakistan Prime Minister, Imran Khan, had mentioned that the way forward was only through “constructive engagement”.
Qureshi, addressing a press conference in Islamabad, stressed on the need for a “continuous and uninterrupted dialogue between the two countries.”
We have long-standing issues, both of us know these problems. But we have no other option but to engage in dialogue. We cannot afford adventurism.SM Qureshi, Pakistan Foreign Minister
Qureshi also acknowledged that though Kashmir was a “complicated issue”, the countries need to engage in dialogue to overcome the hurdles, while accepting that “Kashmir is a reality”.
PM Modi had earlier had a telephonic conversation with his Pakistani counterpart on 30 July, after the latter emerged victorious in the Pakistan general elections.
(With inputs from ANI)
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