Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Pakistan’s foreign minister, spoke at length to Farhan Bokhari, the FT’s Pakistan correspondent, on June 12, 2009 about a host of issues including relations with neighbouring India, the US, the fallout from the Pakistan Army’s recent fight against Taliban militants in the northern Swat valley, and the challenge of eliminating extremism from the country. Mr Qureshi spoke just hours after P. Chidambaram, India’s interior minister, announced the withdrawal of Indian military troops from the cities and towns of the part of Kashmir under Delhi’s control, prompting hopes for a new period of reconciliation. The interview was also held soon after a prominent Pakistani Islamic scholar was killed in a suicide attack on a day when 11 people were killed in two such attacks. Here are excerpts of Mr Qureshi’s interview with the Financial Times:

FT: You have seen a statement earlier today by the Indian interior minister where he has announced the withdrawal of Indian military troops from the cities and towns of Kashmir. Do you find that encouraging?