Modi government’s policy is anti-Pakistan: Aziz

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister’s Advisor on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz said on Tuesday that since day one the policy of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has been anti-Pakistan.

“The policy of the Modi government since they came to power has been anti-Pakistan. They ran the election on this platform and want to improve relations on their terms,” Aziz said.

Sartaj Aziz told reporters in Islamabad that there was no use of dialogue with India until all matters including Kashmir came into discussion. “Relations cannot improve until all outstanding issues are discussed and solved.”

Aziz when asked about Indian aggression at the borders said if there was a violation of Pakistan’s territorial integrity a befitting response would be given.

He termed the upcoming meeting between Pak-India DG Rangers as important, adding that it would improve the condition along the Line of Control and Working Boundary.

Regarding his recent visit to Afghanistan Sartaj Aziz said following the terrorist attacks in Kabul there was an anti-Pakistan campaign on a persistent level which was not good for the bilateral ties between the two countries.

He said the objective of his meeting was restoring trust and confidence and removal of misunderstandings.

Aziz said President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan agreed that there was a need to remove the trust deficit and in this regard a couple of suggestions were put forward. He said it was also agreed that a Memorandum of Mutual Trust would be signed in a few days to avert a repeat of such incidents.

He said the matter of security of the Pakistan embassy in Kabul was also taken up and the Afghan government assured to beef it up further.

Sartaj Aziz said there was also discussion on improving economic ties and in this regard the Afghan Finance Minister will be visiting Pakistan in the first week of November and measures would be taken for making the Joint Economic Commission more effective.