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Saturday, July 20, 2013
Pak seeks composite dialogue with India to address mistrustISLAMABAD: Pakistan wants resumption of formal composite talks with India to address the mistrust and the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has appointed a former senior diplomat Shahryaar Khan to conduct track-II diplomacy.
Foreign Office Spokesman Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry in his weekly briefing here at Foreign Office on Friday quoted prime minister as saying the designated ambassador has visited India and expressed the strong desire of Pakistani leadership for good neighbourly relations with India.
He said Pakistan also strongly reacted to the incident of desecration of the Holy Quran in Occupied Kashmir and expressed grave concern on this issue.
Foreign Office Spokesman Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry in his weekly briefing here at Foreign Office today said, “This incident has hurt the sentiments of the people of Pakistan as well as of the entire Muslim world.”
He said the Indian government has expressed its intention to carry out investigation into the sacrilegious act.
“We hope the probe will be held expeditiously and those involved in the act will be brought to justice,” said the Spokesman during the weekly briefing.
Commenting on the revelations made by a former Indian official that New Delhi had planned Mumbai and parliament attacks, the spokesperson said the foreign office had asked its high commission in New Delhi to approach the Indian government to ascertain the veracity of the report attributed to a former Indian official Satish Verma.
The spokesman said according to the preliminary response, India has denied that any such statement has been made by Verma.
“We, however, would ask India to give more details in this regard,” said the spokesman.
Replying to a question about the visit of Pakistani judicial commission to India, he hoped the visit will stay on course.
He said cooperation between Pakistan and India is essential in countering terrorism.
Answering a question about Pakistan’s desire to review its policy on drone attacks, Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry said the policy of present government on the matter is not a hidden secret.
He said Pakistan has forcefully raised the issue of drone attacks with the United States, which are in violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty as well as the international laws.
The spokesman said the drone attacks are counterproductive because these are further fanning militancy.
He said, “We have a strong position on drone attacks and a debate has also started in the international community against them. Pakistan will continue to raise this issue with the US at all the forums.”
Replying to a question about the Doha process, the spokesperson said, “We had supported this process and will remain supportive of this process as part of larger reconciliation in Afghanistan.”
The spokesman said, “We believe that all the stakeholders of Afghan issue are engaged for peace and stability in the country.”
He hoped the reconciliation process will gain momentum for peace and stability in the entire region. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk