No change in nuclear policy: FM

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Friday said as Kashmiris wanted a full-fledged restoration of statehood of Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K), the claim of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fulfil such demand at some opportune time was entirely vague and against the interest of Kashmiris. The minister termed the meeting between Narendra Modi with Kashmiri leaders minus the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) a staged drama and a public relation exercise to cover the illegal acts of August 5. “This was a failed attempt on part of the Indian prime minister to mend the tarnished image of his government following the illegal acts of revocation of special status of IIOJ&K,” the minister said here at a press conference.

Qureshi said all-parties conference called by the Indian prime minister exposed the tall claims about normalcy of the situation in IIOJ&K ended up in failure. He said there existed a wide gulf between the aspirations of Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) government and the true representative of Kashmiris who remained in search of their identity and the basic right of self-determination.

Qureshi, in response to a question on Prime Minister Imran Khan’s statement that nuclear capability would serve no purpose with resolution of Kashmir dispute, said the country’s nuclear policy had no aggressive designs. He, however, said that keeping the nuclear deterrent was in view of neighbouring country which could have belligerent motives.

“Such decision (nuclear disarmament) is dependent on several factors including the security environment, outstanding disputes and balance of force,” he said.

He said Pakistan had been advocating and facilitating the Afghan peace process with its role of becoming a part of solution and not problem.