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Pakistan wants to resolve issues with India through dialogue: Sartaj Aziz
ISLAMABAD: Advisor to Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on Tuesday said that Pakistan wanted to resolve all issues with India including the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir through dialogue.
Talking to newsmen here Tuesday, he said after the handshake between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi at the conclusion of 18th SAARC summit in Kathmandu no immediate breakthrough was possible.
Sartaj Aziz said India canceled the scheduled meeting between the two foreign secretaries therefore it is obligatory for India to resume the dialogue process.
He, however, said Pakistan was always ready to resume the dialogue process with India to resolve all outstanding issues including Jammu and Kashmir and never wanted to escalate the tension in the region.
“Pakistan wants peaceful relations with India based on the principles of equality, dignity and self respect,” he added.
Sartaj Aziz said Kashmiris were peacefully struggling for their rights and goals but India wanted to divert international community’s attention by associating their struggle to terrorism.
He said Pakistan would continue its efforts to find a peaceful solution to the Kashmir issues in accordance with the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions based on the aspirations of Kashmiri people.
He said India has to resolve the Kashmir issue politically instead of using force against the peaceful struggle of Kashmiris.
Replying to a question about the present political situation and economic condition of Pakistan, he said the protests sit-ins and deteriorated law and order situation has disturbed the foreign investment but hoped that the situation would be improved within next few weeks.
He expressed hope that with completion of the military operation against terrorists the law and order situation would be improved and the investment, especially, the foreign investment will be improved.
He said the government had initiated a number of steps to improve the economic condition of the country.
Sartaj Aziz said provision of social safety network through ensuring food to the deserving people was must to ensure progress and prosperity in the country.
He said Baitul Mall and Benazir Income Support Programme were very effective to ensure basic needs of life to the people especially living below poverty line.
Courtesy www.thenews.com.pk
