New York: As the war of words between India and Pakistan escalated over the Kashmir unrest following the killing of Hizbul Mujahidden commander Burhan Wani, New Delhi has once again expressed its intention of pursuing good relations with Islamabad.
Responding to a question on India-Pakistan relations, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, who is on a week-long official visit to the US, said that India wants friendly ties with Pakistan, but import of terror remained a big issue.
“We always have an intention to make good relationship with Pakistan. From our side we don’t have any problem but importing of terror and terrorist organisation is a big issue for that,” Gadkari said.
Earlier in the day, India hit out at Pakistan for raising the Kashmir issue at the UN saying “it is a country that uses terrorists and provides them sanctuary”.
Calling its reference to Kashmir an "attempt at misuse" of the UN platform, India's Permanent Representative Syed Akbaruddin said, "The attempt came from Pakistan, a country that covets the territory of others; a country that uses terrorism as state policy towards that misguided end; a country that extols the virtues of terrorists and that provides sanctuary to UN-designated terrorists; and a country that masquerades its efforts as support for human rights and self-determination."
Tension between India and Pakistan escalated further after Pakistan’s intervention into India’s affair in Kashmir. So far, 37 people have been killed the violence that erupted after Wani’s death.
Pakistan has accused India of human rights violations in Kashmir with New Delhi asking Islamabad to refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of its neighbours.
Meanwhile, when quizzed about progress of Chabahar port, Gadkari said that India hopes to complete the work within the next 18 months.
The port, he said, will give India access directly to Afghanistan and Russia without going through Pakistan.
The port will be a gateway for new development opportunities for Indian entrepreneurs, he added.
