London, July 25 : Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has supported the new “hot pursuit” policy to tackle terrorism, by not indulging into dialogue with those militants who do not want to lay down arms.

He said Pakistan would engage in dialogue only with those people who renounced violence but would not talk to those who used the language of arms.

“We want to minimise the collateral damage and thus wean away from the clutches of terrorists those who want to get on with their lives and live in peace,” the Dawn quoted Quereshi as saying while speaking at the International Institute of Strategic Studies on ‘Imperatives for Peace and Prosperity in South Asia—Pakistan’s Perspective’ in London.

He said that Pakistan must have the right to have its own strategy to combat terrorism, and sought international community’s assistance in improving the socio-economic lot of the tribal people and the counter-insurgency capabilities of Pakistan’s security forces.

Qureshi also made it clear that Pakistan would never allow foreign troops to enter Pakistan on any pretext.

He said Pakistan’s message to terrorists was clear and unequivocal—“We will not allow our territory to be used by terrorists and we will not be daunted by the threats of terrorism. At the same time, let me also make it clear that Pakistan will not allow foreign troops to operate inside its territory. Military action within our territory is the sole prerogative of the Pakistani armed forces.” (ANI)