"Inherited" questions like Saeed, Dawood; can not be held responsible for the past: Imran Khan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Thursday that it was not in his country's best interest that his territory be used for terrorist purposes, while baderting that he was not a terrorist. he could not be held responsible for acts such as the 26/11 bombings in Mumbai that he had inherited.

"I can honestly say that it is not in Pakistan's interest to allow its soil to be used for terrorist purposes on the outside," said Khan at least twice during a conversation with a group of Indian journalists visiting.

Khan's comments reflect, at least in part, the 2004 joint statement by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf that Pakistan would not allow the territory under its control to be used for terrorist purposes. It is important that India continues to seek evidence of Pakistan's sincerity in its fight against cross-border terrorism.

India baderted that there was no question of resuming dialogue before Pakistan acted against groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e- Muhammed, who operate from his territory and have repeatedly targeted civilians and military to rest from India.

Khan answered questions about India's concerns about terrorism and the need for Pakistan to bring terrorists like Hafiz Saeed (for his role in the Mumbai attacks) to justice, Dawood Ibrahim and Masood Azhar.

"You have to learn from history, not to live in. The Mumbai issue is a pending matter, my government inherited it, I can not be held responsible for the past." said Khan, adding that UN sanctions were in force Saeed's group and he had been subjected to severe repression.

Khan, however, reiterated the importance of the Kashmir issue for Pakistan and said that India must do something for the people of that state. He also referred to the reference Wednesday in his speech at the inauguration ceremony for the Pakistani part of the Kartarpur corridor, prompting a strong protest from India.

"India should see things differently and not just as a territorial issue.Every day we see these images on social media.If nothing else, India should do something for the inhabitants of Kashmir, "said Mr Khan, before adding not to be a military solution.

On his tweet, Khan parodied a question describing Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a little man, claiming that he had not named Modi in his tweet.

Expressing his disappointment at the cancellation of the meeting of Foreign Ministers, he said that an open invitation had been addressed to India and his counterpart for talks. He added that peace gestures could never be one way and that India had to react at least after the elections next year.

"There may be great gestures, but the opposing party must also answer.My people have said (after the cancellation) that I was snubbed.We understand that there are elections in India but at least after that, there must be an answer, "he said.

"There is no desperation for peace, but there is a consensus in Pakistan for peace with India, mentalities have changed in Pakistan." Mentalities of Hope will also change in India, "he added.

"The dialogue should be used to solve the outstanding issues.We believe that there is no animosity between the peoples of the two countries.I have had a very good conversation on the phone with him (Modi) and I'm happy to be able to talk to him at any time, "said Khan.