Making peace overtures, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan Thursday said he was ready to hold talks with his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, as he conceded that it was not in Islamabad’s interest to allow the use of its territory for “terror activities” outside the country.
Khan was apparently referring to India’s stance that terrorism and talks cannot go together and Pakistan must take effective and credible action to stop providing shelter and support to cross-border terrorism from territories under its control.
“It is not in our interest to allow the use of Pakistan’s territory for terror outside,” Khan said during an interaction with a group of Indian journalists here.
Khan said that people in Pakistan want peace with India and he will be happy to meet Indian Prime Minister Modi and talk to him.
“The mindset of people here has changed,” he said.
When asked whether it is possible to resolve the Kashmir issue, the Pakistan Prime Minister said, “nothing is impossible.”
“I am ready for talks on any issue. There can’t be a military solution for Kashmir,” he said.
He, however, said the gesture for peace cannot be one-sided.
“The mindset of people here has changed,” Khan said, a day after he laid the foundation stone for the Kartarpur corridor that will connect Darbar Sahib in Pakistan’s Kartarpur – the final resting place of Sikh faith’s founder Guru Nanak Dev – with Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India’s Gurdaspur district and facilitate visa-free movement of Indian Sikh pilgrims to Kartarpur.
Pakistan is projecting the corridor as a goodwill gesture.
“The India I know – majority must be appreciating it,” Khan said.
“We are willing to wait for (general) elections to get over in India for a gesture from New Delhi,” Khan said, referring to the Lok Sabha elections scheduled for next year.
On punishing alleged Mumbai attack mastermind and Jamat-ud-Dawah (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed, who is carrying a USD 10 million US bounty, Khan said, “There are UN sanctions against Hafiz Saeed. There is already a clampdown on him.”
On other accused in the 26/11 case, Khan said it is sub judice.
There can’t be a military solution on Kashmir: Imran Khan ready for talks with Modi
