Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has categorically rejected the speculations of any secret talks between Pakistan and India through back-door channels or third party including the United Arab Emirates.

In an interview with TRT, a Turkish television network, he said the UAE has good relations with the two South Asian nuclear states, but there were no such talks going on.   

He, however, added that Pakistan never shied away from talks, however, India has been shying away from the dialogue.                

He said Pakistan is willing for talks but India will have to create a conducive environment vitiated by its unilateral August 5, 2019 action in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, depriving the Kashmiris of their fundamental rights.

Foreign Minister in response to a question said as a peaceful and stable Afghanistan is in the interest of Pakistan, the Government in Pakistan and all state institutions are on the same page on the issue.

To another question, the foreign minister said Pakistan’s influence in Afghanistan or over Afghanistan Taliban is exaggerated.

He said the Taliban should not be blamed for all ills in Afghanistan, as there are spoilers from within and outside who do not want peace in Afghanistan as well as in the region.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi said we don’t want any terrorist organization to gain footholds in the region, that is why we have been playing our role and have also started fencing of the our border with Afghanistan to regulate the border crossings.