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Thursday, November 14, 2013
Pakistan wants talks resumption with India
* FO says PM’s visit to Kabul on the cards but no dates have yet been fixedISLAMABAD: Pakistan said on Wednesday that it wants resumption of dialogue process with India for the resolution of all outstanding issues, including Kashmir.
In his weekly briefing, Foreign Office spokesman Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry said Kashmir is the core issue between the two countries and its solution lies in the dialogue process. He said the Kashmiri leadership should also be part of the dialogue. The spokesman said that Islamabad has always extended moral, diplomatic and political support to the Kashmiri people for their right to self-determination. He said the ongoing repression of Indian security forces in the held Kashmir valley is a matter of grave concern for Pakistan.
He said that not only Pakistan but several prestigious human rights organisations have also raised their voice against the human rights violations in Occupied Kashmir. Regarding the meetings of Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz in New Delhi, Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry said the adviser held talks with the Indian external affairs minister and national security adviser on all issues including the situation on Line of Control. He said director generals of military operations of both the countries have made a number of contacts on the LoC situation and concurred to normalise situation at the Working Boundary. He said that ceasefire agreement of 2003 should be respected for peaceful environment between the two neighbours.
He said Sartaj Aziz also paid a courtesy call on the Indian prime minister on Wednesday and affirmed desire of Pakistan to have friendly and peaceful neighbourly relations with India. The adviser also expressed Pakistan’s desire for resumption of dialogue process, he added. Replying to a question about new chief of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Mullah Fazalullah, the FO spokesperson said Pakistan has made it clear to Afghanistan several times that it should not allow the use of its territory against Pakistan. He expressed the confidence that Afghanistan will take the required steps in this regard.
Chaudhry said the visit of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to Kabul is on the cards but no dates have yet been fixed. Answering a question about the whereabouts of Mullah Baradar, the spokesperson said that he is in Pakistan and can contact his family members. He said Pakistan had released Mullah Baradar to advance the Afghan peace and reconciliation process. He said Pakistan will continue to play positive role in the Afghan peace and reconciliation process.
Answering a question about the recent drone attack in North Waziristan, the spokesperson said, the protest on it was conveyed to the US ambassador to Pakistan. “We have also briefed the five permanent members of the UN Security Council about the drone attacks which are illegal and carry human rights and humanitarian implications.” When asked about the steps taken for those living illegally in Saudi Arabia, the spokesperson said that status of eight hundred thousand Pakistanis has been regularised due to the strenuous efforts of the Pakistani mission there. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk