Realism Over Radicalism: For The First Time, Pakistan Concedes Indian Cooperation Is Needed For Peace In Afghanistan

In an unprecedented statement, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, while addressing the National Assembly of Pakistan, acknowledged India as a stakeholder in Afghanistan and conceded that its role is required for a successful peace process in the war-ravaged nation, reports Deccan Chronicle.

"Some meetings have taken place [among key stakeholders] for establishment of peace in Afghanistan. India also has stakes in Afghanistan and its cooperation will also be needed," Qureshi stated while commenting that Pakistan could not on its own bring about peace in Afghanistan.

Pakistan’s historical stance has been to hold that Afghanistan was none of India’s business and that Indian development aid to the country was part of its strategic agenda to encircle Pakistan.

The United States administration under Donald Trump has also signalled its willingness for greater Indian involvement in Afghanistan.

Qureshi said that Pakistan was hopeful of India would respond in kind to the country’s peace overtures such as the opening of the Sikh pilgrimage corridor to Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, Pakistan. He added that the BJP government had only reluctantly accepted the Kartarpur corridor after a cabinet resolution. However, Qureshi did not budge from Pakistan’s belligerent position on Kashmir, stating that his government wanted India to review its policy in the state.