India and Pakistan blame each other for their internal security problems because of some 'third interest', Pakistani minister Firdous Ashiq Awan suggested on Wednesday, and said the two countries should sit together to address 'communication gaps and trust deficit'.
Awan, minister for population welfare, said the two countries could address their concerns over countering rising cases of terrorism through talks.
"Whatever happens in Balochistan, our people blame India and similarly whatever happens here in India, people blame Pakistan. There is some third conspiracy also and we have to pinpoint that third interest-based conspiracy," she said but did not elaborate.
She said people of the two countries love each other as they have 'some sort of inherited relation' but 'unluckily due to trust deficits, certain communication gaps and a lot of problems related to the vested sections across the board, there are certain issues that have to be elaborated more."
On the issue of terrorism, which India says is the 'core' concern vis-a-vis relations with Pakistan, Awan said her country should not be blamed as it was also a victim of the 'global phenomenon' of terrorism.
"Each day, we faceg two-three blasts in different cities in Pakistan. This is not localised in India. Even Pakistan is going through the same turmoil," she said.
"How we have to handle that and how we have to address this issue is another challenge for both the countries and the best way to handle that is that we should sit together," the Pakistani minister said and pitched for the resumption of composite dialogue between the two countries.
"We should address each other's mindset -- that we are blaming India, India is blaming Pakistan," she said.
