GOA: Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari recently spoke to reporters at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting in the Indian state of Goa, highlighting the need for a “conducive environment” for talks between India and Pakistan. He stated that both countries want peace, but it is up to India to create the appropriate atmosphere for discussions to occur.
The foreign minister made it clear that India’s decision to end the special status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 was a significant factor that has negatively impacted the relations between the two countries. The violation of UN resolutions by India’s actions has made it difficult to hold discussions on the matter.
Pakistan has always had a clear stance on the Kashmir issue, and the foreign minister reiterated that stance, stating that India must revoke its August 4 decision. Bilawal added that India’s “one-sided actions” have affected the terms between the two countries, and it is India’s responsibility to improve the situation.
Bilawal also talked about the tension between the two countries surrounding sports, stating that it should be separated from politics and foreign policy. He expressed disappointment that Pakistan’s cricket blind team was not issued visas for their visit to India, questioning why India is afraid of them.
The foreign minister is also the chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and expressed his desire to keep internal politics confined within the borders of Pakistan. He stated that when Pakistan receives the chairmanship of SCO, they will organize a successful meeting.
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari emphasized the need for a conducive environment for talks between India and Pakistan, highlighting India’s responsibility in creating that environment. He also reiterated Pakistan’s stance on the Kashmir issue and expressed his disappointment over the tension between the two countries surrounding sports. Bilawal Bhutto believes that politics should not interfere with sports and that internal politics should be kept within Pakistan’s borders.
Earlier addressing the SCO summit, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari spoke emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to multilateralism and peaceful settlement of international disputes.
The foreign minister condemned unilateral and illegal measures taken by states in violation of international law and Security Council resolutions, stating that such actions are counter to the SCO objectives.
Bilawal Bhutto called for the condemnation of willful provocations and incitement to hate, particularly on religious grounds, and emphasized the collective duty to fight against fascism and historical revisionism leading to violent ultra-nationalism anywhere in the world. He stressed the need to ensure that racism and xenophobic ideologies have no place in today’s world, and that fundamental human rights and freedoms are guaranteed to all.
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Bhutto Zardari also emphasized Pakistan’s condemnation of all forms of terrorism, including state-sponsored terrorism. He argued that conflating non-state actors with state actors must stop, and that the root causes of terrorism must be addressed alongside the threats posed by specific groups. Pakistan is firmly committed to participating in regional and global efforts to eradicate this menace.
