Former foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar on Tuesday said, “The BJP government has disappointed us all,” India Today reported.
Khar was speaking at the India Today Global Roundtable on the eve of the Saarc summit in Kathmandu for a session titled ‘Can India and Pakistan be friends?’ which was moderated by TVTN managing editor Rahul Kanwal.
“There was a complete negative image of PM Modi in Pakistan before the elections. But after he came to power with a two-third majority, Pakistan, as smart statesmanship demands, put the past behind and [Prime Minister] Nawaz Sharif attended Modi's swearing-in ceremony," Khar said of the new Indian prime minister.
"I told Karan Thapar then that Modi can be a game-changer. But that opportunity lasted for a few months.”
“Two years ago, I used to be an indefatigable optimist on India-Pakistan relationship. But I see myself as realistic. We have been bad neighbours and allowed hatred to filter in,” Khar said
Further, Rabbani spoke of the Kashmir issue and addressed the tension between both countries in reference to the disputed region, so much so, that India called of secretary-level talks with Pakistan after the high commissioner decided to meet with Kashmiri separatists.
“Red lines are important and they have to be accepted. But you can't carve out brand new red lines,” she said in reference to the talks being called off.
“It is wrong to say Pakistan fixated on Jammu and Kashmir. It is an issue. If it is not an issue, we would not have fought wars on it. But we have to cross the troubled waters. In 1965, we decided that we cannot be fixated on Kashmir,” the former foreign minister added.
“If Pakistan wanted to up the ante, it would say plebiscite first and dialogue later.”
“India and Pakistan cannot afford to be delusional while hoping to for a meaningful relationship,” said former foreign minister Khar.
“It has been a one-way traffic. Pakistan has been sending signals and signals and India is fixated on certain issues,” she said.
With two major operations against militants going on in the country -- Operation Zarb-e-Azb and Operation Khyber-I -- it was no surprise that Khar would refer to the topic of terrorism.
“If terrorism is an issue for India, it is a bigger issue in Pakistan,” she said.
“There has been a sea change. Ever since the democratic government came to power in Pakistan, we have fought terrorism hard. Our soldiers are dying. Terrorism is very big issue for Pakistan,” Khar said.
Additionally, with the Saarc summit just a day away, Khar put forth an different view on the South Asian leaders’ summit, declaring it “the least integrated region in the world.”
Khar further said there was “no place less connected than Saarc.”
On a light note, she made displayed humour on the not-so-straightforward travel route to the destination of the summit, stating, “To fly to Kathmandu, I have to first go to Doha to come to Kathmandu.”
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if a degree in hospitality management + fathers influence - can give foreign minister job of cosmetic value so be it.
"Pakistan is not fixated on Kashmir" is a gross understatement. Pakistan's entire foreign policy circles around Kashmir. To cite recent example, Nawaz uttered K word in UN completely out of context and agenda. When cross border firing started, Sartaj Aziz overwhelmingly spam nations and UN with intervening in Kashmir issue, no matter what the reason for cross border firing was. Your war on terrorism entirely skips the groups of terrorist attacking India since they are your strategic assets on Kashmir. Even the recent visit by general asked USA to help on Kashmir. You guys lost half of your nation and about to loose more just for Kashmir. And you say "Pakistan is not fixated on Kashmir ???????". The only common link between terrorism in India and Pakistan is that both of their source lies in Pakistan.
@Kamal:
"“Indian” Muslim will get Modi’s Gujarat Treatment in 24 Hours. "
ET, you allow such blatant lies and when I give the example of Pakistan in Palestine, you block, instead of even bothering to google and finding out.
Kamal, google black september and find out how Pakistan army massacred a 1000 palestinians in Jordan.
@zafar:
" They should remember that to grow economically the whole region must grow together. "
Hehehe.
Have you ever been Israel? Of course not, with your Pakistani passport.
Israel has progressed in every field, while all its neighbors have diminished in every field.
Saudi Arabia, which god has blessed with so much resources, what is it's production, contribution? ZERO. The fools are busy drifting with expensive german cars on expensive american built roads.
Saudi managers, doctors, engineers, architects, teachers, technicians are all Indian or eastern asian or white people.
Compare that to Israel, it's next door neighbor. Aqaba quite literally sits next door to Elat. Just see the difference in how developed and different these two cities are.
“The BJP government has disappointed us all,” By 'us', if u mean Pakistan, then thats ur issue. I, on the other hand, voted against modi n he hasnt disappointed me at all ...
@zafar: Preach others and commit follies upon follies and act as if we are holier than thou. Not sure why is there a sense of entitlement... always...
"In 1965, we decided that we cannot be fixated on Kashmir"
And then you started Kargil !!! M'am, nice try.
See how many people from Jammu, Kashmir & Ladakh standing in cold weather to vote in the elections and ignore separatists and threat of terrorism...
http://www.ndtv.com/article/cheat-sheet/jammu-and-kashmir-has-record-voter-turnout-10-developments-625794?pfrom=home-lateststories
Keep your side of what you have and use the money to develop Pakistan and uplift poor and also be able to eradicate Polio from the earth...
War is not the solution...
@zafar: Even if someone gives Pakistan for free of cost also we don't want. keep it yourselves
@zafar: Their enmity towards Pakistan will hurt the whole region.
So what has changed over last six decades, apart from Pakistan losing half of its territory ? How can one not have enmity, when one suffers brazen attacks on their major cities by outfits based and supported in Pakistan ? The victim's families of Mumbai attacks have still not got closure as Pakistan turns blind eye to the activities of these outfits ! Rest assure Pakistan is not the centre of the planet nor that important on global stage, that others should be concerned about them.
‘Can India and Pakistan be friends?’ Is there such a thing called friendship between countries?
"But after he came to power with a two-third majority,..." Incorrect, they got simple majority not 2/3rd.
“If Pakistan wanted to up the ante, it would say plebiscite first and dialogue later.” Please do, who or what's stopping you?
“If terrorism is an issue for India, it is a bigger issue in Pakistan,” That's a specious argument. Pakistan might be a victim of terrorism, but it's also a source...
@zafar
India have hardly any trade with pkistan.
Pakistan infact created most of troubles for India with all jihad frarmwork operating with in pak.
Its better if we keep isolated but dont intervene in each other affairs
unfortunately ,you are preaching to the Choir.......
Yep! India, unfortunately, is too preoccupied with the Akhand Bharat idea. It is willing to sacrifice the economic well-being of the whole region because of this ill-conceived idea. They should remember that to grow economically the whole region must grow together. Recent examples include North America, South East Asia, Europe. Barring North America, none had fewer inter-relational issues than India-Pakistan relations. It is NOT possible to put your neighborhood on fire and sit back to relax and hope to enjoy economic well-being all on your own. Consequently, the fire will follow you and burn down your house too. The Indian people need to make this very clear to themselves. Their enmity towards Pakistan will hurt the whole region.
Indian rants coming up...