ISLAMABAD: Expressing disappointment over India’s non-serious attitude towards Indo-Pak talks, Pakistan on Thursday sought intervention by US President Barack Obama for the resolution of the Kashmir and other disputes between the countries.
“It is hoped that during his forthcoming visit to India, President Obama will take up issues that are central to ensuring peace and stability in this region. Pakistan hopes that the US being a major power can play its role for regional peace,” Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit told a weekly press briefing.
To a question on Indian Prime Minister’s statement about his country’s readiness for dialogue with Pakistan to resolve all issues, Basit said, “There is a marked difference between what the Indians say and what they do.”
“Had this not been the case, the two countries would surely have been able to normalise relations by settling bilateral disputes, including Jammu and Kashmir,” he said. He said the dialogue between the two nations did not imply that they sat across the table and reiterated their stated positions.
Basit said, “We want a meaningful dialogue and we will welcome if New Delhi too moves beyond the blame game, but unfortunately nothing on the ground inspires hope.”
“We hope that India will bridge the gap between its words and deeds,” he said. To a question on the Indian defence minister’s remarks about ISI’s involvement in terrorist acts in India, he said, “Unfortunately, India seems to be obsessed with the ISI and loses its capacity to be objective.”
“India first accused ISI of involvement in Samjhota Express bombing in 2007 in which 42 innocent Pakistanis also lost their life.
However, later events proved who was responsible for this crime. India must share investigation of the Samjhota Express bombing with Pakistan and bring the real culprits to justice,” Basit said.
“India should also shun the tendency of accusing ISI for all its problems, including the Naxalite insurgency, which is spread over a large number of Indian districts,” he said. Basit said Pakistan’s stance on drone attacks was clear; that the assaults constituted a breach of the country’s sovereignty and the US must revisit the policy that had proved to be counter-productive.
Basit said there was no linkage between US assistance to Pakistan and their demands for military operations in the Tribal Areas. “The two countries are finalizing projects that will be funded through American assistance under the Kerry-Lugar-Berman Act,” he said.
US must mediate on Kashmir: FO
