We have no objection to Indo-Afghan ties: Pak

Islamabad, Apr 2: Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that his country has no objection to India's relations with Afghanistan.

He made the statement while briefing the Senate or upper house of parliament on the recent strategic dialogue between the US and Pakistan.

Qureshi said, "India's relations with Afghanistan are long-standing and both countries have a right to have relations."

The Minister further said, "But there is a qualified difference. India cannot match Pakistan in its relations with Afghanistan, because India does not share a border with Afghanistan and its role during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan is clear to everybody."

"The price which Pakistan has paid due to instability in Afghanistan, India did not even suffer a fraction of it," he said.

"If India tries to affect Pakistan-Afghanistan relations, it is a cause of concern," Qureshi said.

"We have also conveyed these concerns to the US. Our apprehensions are legitimate and we informed them that these legitimate concerns need to be addressed," he said.

"US realised for the first time that Pakistan has genuine security needs. Economic development is a must for stability and to fight insurgency," Qureshi added.

OneIndia News