Pak defence min optimistic of improving ties with Delhi post elections

ISLAMABAD:
As India continuously accused Pakistan of sponsoring terrorism across its borders, Pakistan Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif has expressed hopes for betterment in bilateral ties with India after the country comes out of its election phase poised to be held from April 19 and ending in June, Geo News reported.
The relations between Pakistan and India have been depleting for the past many years owing to Pakistan sponsoring terrorism, allegedly providing shelters to India’s declared terrorists and its illegal occupation of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Most recently, India abstained from the adoption of a resolution on ‘Measures to Combat Islamophobia’ introduced by the Pakistan envoy at the UNGA.
“Our relations with India could be improved after elections there,” the defence minister expressed his views while speaking to reporters outside the Parliament House in Islamabad, adding that Pakistan and India ties have its “own background”.
As the country that borders China, India, Afghanistan, and Iran witnessed tensions with other neighbours, except for China, following Pakistan’s cross-border attacks in Iran and rising tensions with Afghanistan, Asif is hopeful for a turn of event in terms of improvement of bilateral ties with New Delhi after the neighbour completes its upcoming election phase, Geo News reported.
The Minister also spoke on Pakistan’s relations with Afghanistan and said that he personally visited Taliban-ruled country and asked the government to take effective steps to stop terrorism.
The defence minister said that he, along with a high-level delegation, visited Afghanistan to request the Taliban government there to take effective steps to stop terrorism. However, the solution proposed by Kabul was not practically possible, he added.
“Our options are now reducing day-by-day for the neighbour due to fluctuation in the Afghan interim government’s attitude towards Pakistan,” Asif said. He added that Pakistan has always stood beside Afghanistan, rendered sacrifices for them, and even fought wars with them, Geo News reported.
He stressed the treatment of Pak-Afghan border like other borders around the globe which restricts cross-border movement to visa holders under international laws.