June 05, 2015
News
Friendship with India based on trust is our priority: Mamnoon
ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain on Thursday said Pakistan is a peace loving country and wishes to have friendly relations with its neighbours on the basis of equality and mutual respect.
In his address to parliament’s joint sitting, the president said friendly relations with India on the basis of mutual confidence and cooperation was Pakistan’s priority but India must reciprocate by taking steps to resolve Kashmir issue according to UN resolutions.
“Friendship with India, based on mutual trust and understanding, is our priority. We want that India should keep its promise and take steps to resolve the Kashmir issue according to UN resolutions and according to the aspirations of the Kashmiri people in order to provide a solid ground for peace in the region,” he said. Mamnoon said India had suspended the ongoing dialogue process with Pakistan without any reason, and called upon New Delhi to resume the peace process with sincerity and good intentions.
“A while back, India suspended the dialogue process without any reason. Recently, hopes were raised with the resumption of the frozen process through the foreign secretary level talks but unfortunately no prominent progress was made. Pakistan believes that the resolution of all problems between the two countries lies through dialogue and talks alone,” he said.
On the issue of terrorism, the president lauded parliament’s consensus on all-out efforts for complete eradication of the menace from the country and approval of the national action plan.
He said the attack on Army Public School in Peshawar was the incident which tested all the limits of patience of nation and its institutions and the decision for absolute action was ultimately taken. “In my view, this was the most significant decision in terms of the country’s stability and economic future,” he added.
He categorically said that the operation would continue till the elimination of last terrorist, whether they are active in FATA, tribal areas, Karachi or any other part of the country.
The president said the nation had not forgotten their 60,000 martyrs including civilians and armymen and assured their relatives that these precious sacrifices would be remembered forever.
He also mentioned the difficulties faced by displaced persons who left their homes in tribal areas in support of operation against terrorists. He recommended the government to allocate generous funds for the uplift of these people.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk