News
Wednesday, May 05, 2010
Pakistan wants just, peaceful resolution of Kashmir issue: FM* Qureshi tells NA Pakistan, India agreed to launch fifth round of talks
* All-out efforts will be made to compel India to implement Indus Basin Water TreatyBy Tahir Niaz
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Tuesday reiterated the country’s principled stand aimed at a just and peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with UN resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
Winding up discussion on a motion moved in the National Assembly by Marvi Memon on behalf of Surrayya Ashgar on the government’s Kashmir policy, the foreign minister said Pakistan would continue to extend moral, political and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri people.
Qureshi said the Kashmiri people were a major party in the dispute and Pakistan could not support any solution of this long-standing issue that did not involve or accept the Kashmiri people.
Referring to the recent meeting between Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh in Bhutan, he said the Kashmir issue was discussed threadbare and both leaders agreed to launch a fifth round of talks to resolve all issues between the two countries, including the Kashmir dispute.
The foreign minister said both leaders felt that there was a trust deficit between the two countries and respective foreign ministers were assigned the task to take measures to bridge this gap and move forward.
Qureshi said that both the leaders reached a conclusion that there was no way to resolve the outstanding issues but to restore the composite dialogue.
He said the present government had returned to its principled stand on Kashmir from which the former government had deviated.
Qureshi said it was unfortunate that the previous government brought changes in the country’s stance on Kashmir.
Referring to the water dispute with India, Qureshi said the government was making serious efforts to take up the issue with India at a proper forum and all out efforts would be made to compel India to implement the Indus Basin Water Treaty.
He said India was violating the treaty by constructing dams, which had created problems for Pakistan with the Indian blockade of the country’s water. He said the government had asked India to resolve the Kishan Ganga project in the light of the Indus Water Treaty.
Minister for Labour and Manpower, Syed Khurshid Ahmad Shah said that the government was taking concrete measures to eliminate child labour and ensure education for all children living in poverty.
Meanwhile, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) members staged a walked out from the House for not getting a satisfactory reply from the Advisor to PM Nawabzada Ghazanfar Gul to a question regarding petrol supply to NATO forces on cheap rates.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk