Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has staed that no progress must be expected on recommencing peace talks with India before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. He was addressing mediapersons after a conference of Pakistan’s Senate Standing Committee of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad.Qureshi stated that the issue of talks with India was discussed during the meet.

As per Pakistan-based The Express Tribune, the board was also briefed by the government on the recent visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan to Saudi Arabia and China, apart from status of Pakistan’s association with neighbors India and Afghanistan.

This move comes less than a month after Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan stated that anti-Pakistan rhetoric rakes in votes in India. He pointed that relationship with Pakistan is a poll issue in India. Imran Khan had also said that he would again extend a “hand of friendship” to India after the end of 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader had made the statement while addressing media persons at the Future Investment Initiative Forum in Riyadh.

Talking about Pakistan’s efforts to mend bonds with neighbours, Imran Khan stated  that he had extended a hand of friendship to India soon after assuming power, but the same was snubbed by New Delhi.