Foreign Minister 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 neighboring 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.
Asked if Pakistan and India were holding a backdoor channel of communication, he categorically dismissed the notion, however, said there existed a “time to time interaction at intelligence level in area of regional security”.
To a question on rising violence in Afghanistan, he said Pakistan was concerned about the situation where several elements and “spoilers” could be held responsible who did not want to see peace and stability in Afghanistan.
He said Pakistan had been advocating and facilitating the Afghan peace process with its role of “becoming a part of solution and not problem”.
“A negotiated political settlement in Afghanistan is in everybody’s Interest and was the best way forward,” he said.
Qureshi emphasized that the Afghans, including the government and Taliban, needed to sit together. “Whatever the outcome evolves out of their negotiations, Pakistan would respect that,” he added, saying that “We will remain the partners of peace and not conflict”.
Asked about the blame-game against Pakistan ahead of the meeting between U.S. president Joe Biden and Afghan president Ashraf Ghani, he said, “They [Afghan government representatives] can say whatever they want, but the US knows Pakistan’s role very well and the world is not oblivious to our role”.
The foreign minister said the peace and stability in Afghanistan would ensure development and regional connectivity. However in case of a setback, Afghans would suffer the most, he added.