MULTAN Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Saturday that Pakistan preferred bilateral engagement with India to resolve the water dispute and the option of international arbitration would be explored only if bilateral talks failed to deliver. Qureshi said at a press conference that under the Indus Waters Treaty, India cannot hold back Pakistan's share and Islamabad had communicated its point of view on water and Kashmir issues to New Delhi during the foreign secretary-level talks last month.
He said Pakistan had suggested a roadmap for structured dialogue and emphasised that interaction should be meaningful and result-oriented.
“India is facing some internal problems on the resumption of dialogue,” the foreign minister said, adding that some elements there opposed negotiations in the wake of Mumbai attacks.
Qureshi said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh gave a statement on Friday in Lok Sabha in which he explained the importance of negotiations with Islamabad.
Pakistan was committed to the trial of the Mumbai accused, Qureshi said, adding that the legal process was in progress and the case would be decided by courts.
He said one cannot remain stuck in a particular issue and the situation was untenable. While India was concerned about the Mumbai incident, Pakistan had faced several Mumbai-like attacks that not only killed innocent people but also affected its economy.
The foreign minister said Pakistan had made it clear to India that it wanted 'result-oriented and purposeful dialogue' and was not interested in a mere photo opportunity. “Pakistan is not in hurry and can wait for meaningful dialogue.”
He said Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir visited India last month on an invitation by New Delhi and presented Pakistan's point of view on all issues, including Kashmir and water. The issue of terrorism was also discussed, he said.
In reply to a question about reports that India had sought custody of Jamaatud Dawa leader Hafiz Saeed during the secretary-level talks, he said they did not mention Hafiz Saeed.
In reply to another question about India's reported efforts to seek Saudi mediation for resolving differences with Pakistan, Qureshi said the matter did not come up for discussion in the talks last month.
The foreign minister said that Pakistan model of tackling armed insurgency was being highly praised all over the world. He praised the armed forces for their successful operations in troubled areas, adding that their four-point strategy, clear, hold, build and transfer to civilian authority, was being studied in the world.
In reply to a question about US aid, he said that during talks Pakistan had stressed that the US should support the democratic government more than ever and this understanding had prevailed. He said he was satisfied with the economic assistance and help in energy sector by the US and cooperation by the EU in education and other sectors.
He said the Friends of Pakistan group was not an aid pledging body, but a forum to muster political support and enhance diplomatic space for Pakistan.
The next meeting of the group would be held in June in Brussels, he added.
He said the EU was a big trade partner of Pakistan and during his recent visit to Brussels he discussed the next five-year strategy and matters pertaining to enhanced market access with EU leaders. He expressed the hope that Pakistan would get more access to the EU market.
The minister said that during his visit to China, he had discussed matters relating to China's cooperation in defence and economic sectors, besides China-Pakistan strategic partnership.
He said he had also interacted with think-tanks in Brussels and China to present Pakistan's point of view.—APP