Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Former foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar on Friday said that Panama leaks have given courage to the common people to ask questions from the rulers about transparency.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of three-day 4th Islamabad Literature Festival at Lok Virsa, organised by the Oxford University Press, Pakistan, she said that Panama leaks have also created an opportunity to bring transparency in Pakistan.

The former minister said Pakistan had excellent relations with China and that the CPEC project was equally beneficial for both the countries. She said that time was ripe for normalisation of relations with India through trade. After the Pathankot incident, formation of an investigation team from the Pakistan side was a good step.

On Kashmir, she said that Pakistan has taken up the issue with India. She said it was not enough to verbally say that Pakistan attaches great importance to Kashmir issue but the two countries need to engage in serious discussion on all issues including Kashmir.

She was of the view that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has provided Pakistan a good opportunity to establish cordial relations between the two neighbours. “Pakistan has a limited role in resumption of dialogue between Afghan Taliban and the government. Other stakeholders, especially the Quadrilateral Cooperation Group (QCG) members would have to play their role too,” she said.

Khar said that Iranian President Rouhani made his maiden visit to Pakistan but, unfortunately, prior to his visit some elements tried to give impression that Iranian land was being used for terrorism in Pakistan. She said Pakistan did a blunder and wasted an excellent opportunity. “These are windows of opportunities and we have to benefit from these. Opportunities do not remain forever,” she said.

When asked why she could not do anything to promote tourism in the country, she said, “Give me a soft image of Pakistan and I will present it. It is difficult to promote activities that I myself feel insecure attempting to.”

She said that before 9/11, only one suicide attack happened in Pakistan. But after that incident, countless civilians and armed forces personnel were killed in terrorism attacks, she said, and added in last two decades, Pakistan fought others wars. “General Ziaul Haq adopted American policy and the country was involved in US’ war. Pakistan suffered a lot in that fight against Russia,” she said.

Khar said the people think that relations between Pakistan and India would be managed from Washington.