India had offered Pakistan to jointly work in Afghanistan, but there were no takers of this offer in Islamabad, a former top Indian diplomat has said.
“We have offered to Pakistan, we are willing to sit out with them and give a read out to what we are doing in Afghanistan,” former foreign secretary Shyam Saran said at an event organised by the Asia Society on Friday. “We have also said, our offer has been to work together in Afghanistan, and do some joint projects, work together that would contribute to the peace and prosperity in Afghanistan.”
Responding to questions on the concerns of Pakistan on India’s role in Afghanistan, Saran said this offer has been made to Pakistan time and again, but there has been no response from Pakistan, neither does Islamabad seems to be interested in talking with India on Afghanistan.
There are a number of things that the two South Asian neighbours can do together in Afghanistan, which can bring peace and stability in this war torn country, said Saran, who is in the US to attend a conference on Afghanistan in Boston. Saran yesterday met Deputy Secretary of State William Burns at the State Department.