July 13, 2015
News
No dialogue sans Kashmir: Pakistan
*Adviser calls July 10 Nawaz-Modi meeting not a formal start of any dialogue process *Pakistan, India may revive Track II dialogue to resolve issues
INPISLAMABAD - Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on Monday said that Kashmir tops list of outstanding issues with India and there will be no dialogue unless Kashmir issue is on agenda.
Addressing a press conference regarding Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s visit to Ufa, Sartaj said that the July 10 meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not the formal start of any dialogue process, but it served an important purpose to achieve an understanding that both neighbours must reduce tensions and hostility in order to constructively engage in a structured dialogue on all issues of bilateral and regional interest, including the core issue of Jammu Kashmir.
He said that the statement issued after the meeting clearly recognised that Pakistan and India have a collective responsibility to ensure peace and promote development. “To do so, they are prepared to discuss all outstanding issues,” he said. “Kashmir of course tops the list of outstanding issues, but there are also other important issues like Siachen, Sir Creek, interference and water,” he said.
Sartaj said that Pakistan had stood by the Kashmiris in their legitimate struggle, and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif affirmed Pakistan’s principled position in clear and unequivocal terms during his annual speech at the UN General Assembly.
"We would continue to extend political, moral, and diplomatic support to our Kashmiri brethren," he said. The adviser said that the meeting provided an opportunity to identify some areas where the two countries could promote cooperation right away in order to reduce tensions and hostility.
"Peace and tranquility on the Line of Control (LoC) and the Working Boundary are in the interest of both the countries. Even though at present ceasefire is by and large being maintained, there have been occasions when this ceasefire was violated causing casualties and injuries to people inhabiting those areas," he noted.
"Both leaders agreed that the existing mechanism of regular meetings between Director General (DG) Rangers, DG Border Security Forces (BSF) and DG Military Oprations (MOs) should be held to ensure full compliance with the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding," he said.
He further remarked that the two sides had also agreed to revive Track II dialogue to explore ways of resolving issues, which were lingering for a long time and needed to be resolved in order to give peace a chance. Modalities for this track will be worked out through diplomatic channels, he added.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk