Pakistan determined to improve ties with neighbours: Shah Mahmood Qureshi

ISLAMABAD:  Pakistan remains steadfast to improve its relations with neighboring countries to build a prosperous South Asia, said  Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi Wednesday.

Addressing a National Conference on Strategic Stability in South Asia, he   stressed that conflict resolution is the key to strategic stability in the region.

Talking about the Kashmir issue, he said threat to peace and stability emanates from the old dispute which remains unresolved for over a half decade.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the Indian denial to the Kashmir right of self-determination and its blatant human rights violations have led to frustration amongst the Kashmiri youth. 

He said Indian policies are the reason that the freedom struggle in occupied Kashmir has gained momentum and caught world attention. 

The minister said what the world is seeing in  Kashmir is the backlash of Indian atrocities inflicted on the local people.

Qureshi said  dialogue was the key to resolve  the Kashmir dispute.

The foreign minister said Pakistan is a peace loving country.  "Our conduct as a nuclear state will continue to be defined by restraint and responsibility," said he.

 He said Pakistan will maintain credible minimum deterrence to ensure its national security.

The Foreign Minister said Pakistan is opposed to conventional and unconventional arms race in the region. 

He added that  India's massive acquisition of conventional arms coupled with offensive posture poses threat to regional peace and security.

Referring to the recent Indian belligerence, the foreign minister said that Pakistan is committed to peaceful and normal relations in its neighborhood. He, however, made it absolutely clear that Pakistan is capable to frustrate any misadventure.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that Pakistan has shown it is prepared to take concrete steps to ease tension and work for friendly relations with India with Kartarpur corridor like initiatives.  

"Our neighbor also need to understand that the only way forward is dialogue," the foreign minister said.