Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said that cutting off ties with India would not serve Pakistan's interests as Islamabad is already 'internationally isolated and disengaged’.
Speaking at the Institute of Strategic Studies in Islamabad today, Bilawal asked: "Does it serve our interests, do we achieve our objectives whatever they may be, be it Kashmir, be it rising Islamophobia, the Hindutva supremacist nature of the new regimes and the governments in India? Does it serve our objective that we have practically cut off all engagements?"
He, however, said that Indian atrocities in Jammu Kashmir, attempts to change the demography of the disputed territory and recent Islamophobic remarks of the BJP officials make it very difficult for Pakistan to renew ties with India.
"We don't have a trading relationship with India and many will argue absolutely we should not. The environment is not as such, given these outrageous assaults on our principles it would be inappropriate for Pakistan to take such a step," he said.
The foreign minister pushed for directly communicating with the people of India, who according to him, are not responsible for the steps taken by the Modi government.
"If I am taking at them through the media, through press conferences, through press releases and not talking with them then am I able to effectively impact any sort of change. Forget about the government. Surely talking to the people and engaging with the public serves the interests of Pakistan," he said.
Criticising the PTI-led government, he said that Pakistan is internationally isolated and disengaged due to the former government’s flawed policies, adding that the incumbent government has inherited the country in such a position that "wherever you look there is a crisis."
Speaking at the Institute of Strategic Studies in Islamabad today, Bilawal asked: "Does it serve our interests, do we achieve our objectives whatever they may be, be it Kashmir, be it rising Islamophobia, the Hindutva supremacist nature of the new regimes and the governments in India? Does it serve our objective that we have practically cut off all engagements?"
He, however, said that Indian atrocities in Jammu Kashmir, attempts to change the demography of the disputed territory and recent Islamophobic remarks of the BJP officials make it very difficult for Pakistan to renew ties with India.
"We don't have a trading relationship with India and many will argue absolutely we should not. The environment is not as such, given these outrageous assaults on our principles it would be inappropriate for Pakistan to take such a step," he said.
The foreign minister pushed for directly communicating with the people of India, who according to him, are not responsible for the steps taken by the Modi government.
"If I am taking at them through the media, through press conferences, through press releases and not talking with them then am I able to effectively impact any sort of change. Forget about the government. Surely talking to the people and engaging with the public serves the interests of Pakistan," he said.
Criticising the PTI-led government, he said that Pakistan is internationally isolated and disengaged due to the former government’s flawed policies, adding that the incumbent government has inherited the country in such a position that "wherever you look there is a crisis."