Khan pitches for better Indo-Pak ties but describes Kashmir as only issue, India hits back

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday pitched for "strong and civilised" relationship with India but asserted that they have "one issue, which is Kashmir", receiving a sharp reaction from India which regretted that he used the "pious occasion" of foundation stone-laying for Kartarpur Sahib corridor to make "unwarranted reference" to it's integral and inalienable part.

There was a need for "showing strength, will and determination" by the leadership of the two countries to resolve all issues, Khan said after the foundation ceremony and emphasised that both countries are nuclear armed and "only a foolish individual can think one can win a nuclear war". The ceremony was also attended by Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

However, Khan didn't mention terrorism in his address at the event, attended by Indian Union ministers -- Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Hardeep Singh Puri --Punjab state minister Navjot Singh Sindhu among others. India has always maintained that cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan is a "core concern" for it.

While citing example of France and Germany who fought several wars and are now living in peace with each other, Khan said his government, the army and all political parties were for "strong and civilised" ties with India.

"I am telling you, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, the ruling party, other political parties and armed forces are on one page...We want to move ahead. We want a civilised relationship with India," Khan said.

There have been "mistakes on both sides" and the two sides should not live in the past, he said.

"We have one issue, which is Kashmir. Humans have reached the Moon. Which issue can't be solved? Cannot we solve one issue? We only need determined leadership on both sides. There is no issue which cannot be resolved," he said and reiterated that if India moves one step forward, Pakistan will take two steps forward.

Reacting sharply to Khan's remarks, the External Affairs Ministry in a statement in New Delhi said,"It is deeply regrettable that the Prime Minister of Pakistan chose to politicise the pious occasion meant to realise the long pending demand of the Sikh community to develop a Kartarpur corridor by making unwarranted reference to Jammu and Kashmir which is an integral and inalienable part of India."