Our eyes open, minds not closed with Pakistan: MJ Akbar

NEW DELHI: The Modi government on Wednesday made it clear that dialogue with Pakistan can only happen when there is peace amid recent overtures by Islamabad to reopen dialogue with Delhi.

“We deal with Pakistan with our eyes open and not minds closed. We hope Pakistan will see the path of reason, we hope Pakistan’s friends will make it see the path of reason. Let there be peace and then there will be dialogue,” MoS External Affairs M J Akbar told media at the BJP government’s mid-term press meet. He was asked about India’s engagement with Pakistan.

Pointing out that India wants peaceful good neighbourly relations with Pakistan the Minister noted that India’s intentions has not changed. “But dialogue cannot happen amid bullets,” he quipped without mincing any words. Targeting Pak sponsored terror Akbar’s one liner was “Terrorism is the snake that bites hand that feeds it.”

However, he was quick to point out engagement with Pakistan needs to continue. Akbar said over the last two and a half years of the present government, India has tried to achieve the best results with Pakistan under the ‘Neighbourhood Policy’.