ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday said New Delhi refused to bilaterally engage dialogue and rejects proposals aimed at risk reduction, confidence-building and nuclear and missile restraint.

India’s hegemonic pretensions presented a clear danger to regional stability, and to Pakistan’s security, Shah Mahmood Qureshi said addressing a ceremony at Air University Islamabad.

“India resorts to war-mongering and issues nuclear threats including for short term domestic electoral gains,” he said.

The foreign minister said Pakistan desired peace and strategic stability to focus on its socio-economic development agenda.

He said our conduct continued to be defined by restraint and responsibility, and the avoidance of an arms race. Pakistan, however, cannot remain oblivious to the evolving security dynamics in its immediate neighbourhood, he added.

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The minister said on August 5, India sought to further consolidate its illegal and immoral occupation of Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir in violation of numerous UNSC resolutions and international law.

“The inhuman lockdown of eight million people continuing for over 70 days is imposing unspeakable sufferings on the people of Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.

FM Qureshi said Pakistan would continue to stand by Kashmiris in their just struggle for realization of the right to self-determination.

Speaking about Afghanistan, he said Pakistan was fully supporting peace and reconciliation, to be achieved through an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned process.  He said Pakistan had supported all rounds of Afghan peace talks in Doha and Abu Dhabi. “We hope that the US-Taliban talks recommence and lead to intra-Afghan negotiations.”

The foreign minister said China remained our closest friend and a steadfast partner. He said we were determined to execute the CPEC projects and, in our recent visit to China, had proposed more projects for Chinese investment that could rejuvenate and consolidate our economy.