Pak ready to address US concerns over LeT: Qureshi

Islamabad, Mar 14: In response to US lawmakers concern over Pakistan's inaction against terror groups, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Saturday, Mar 14 said that Pakistan would address US concern over Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) during an upcoming visit to the country.

Queshi said that he was ready to answer all queries put foward by American authorities on LeT.

"They have a Congressional committee which discussed [this issue] and people expressed their views. They can do that; you can't impose restrictions on anyone. But I will be visiting the U.S. in the near future and I will engage Congressmen and Senators. I will present our views to them," Qureshi said in response to a question during an interaction with journalists in his hometown of Multan.

Qureshi's statement came after Gary Ackerman, chairman of the U.S. House Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia on Friday, Mar 12, said that Pakistan military was still maintaining links with LeT instead of crushing the 'group of savages'.

Asked to comment on normalising issues with India, Qureshi said he was willing to hold talks with his Indian counterpart if such a meeting resulted in favorable outcome.

"I have no objection to meeting [my Indian counterpart] but what is the purpose of such a meeting? If something comes out of the meeting, I am ready to meet him. I am ready to go there [for a meeting]. If nothing will be achieved by such a meeting, I don't want to waste my time. I have no desire for a photo opportunity," Qureshi said.

"I sincerely want an end to tensions affecting ties and I sincerely want the resumption of the composite dialogue. I sincerely want an improvement in ties so that we can live like good neighbours,"he said.

He said despite having issues with each other, both the countries have 'decided on a mechanism to resolve these disputes'.

"We should move forward on this. We may not be able to solve them immediately but we can make progress. There are many issues on which there are bright chances of progress if there is political will and sincerity but I am not in favour of sitting for the sake of sitting and talks for the sake of talks," Qureshi said.

OneIndia News