Pakistan wants resumption of formal composite talks with India to address mistrust, Foreign Office spokesman Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry said on Friday.
Addressing a weekly news briefing‚ the FO spokesman said, “At the beginning of the backdoor channels with India, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has appointed former senior diplomat Shahryar Khan to conduct track-II diplomacy,” adding that the designated ambassador had visited India and conveyed to the leadership there a strong desire of the Pakistani leadership for having good neighbourly relations.
Regarding the incident of the desecration of Holy Quran in Indian-held Kashmir, Chaudhry said the government expressed grave concern over the incident, adding that “this incident has hurt the sentiments of the people of Pakistan as well as of the entire Muslim world”.
He said the Indian government had expressed its intention to carry out the investigation into the sacrilegious act. “We hope the probe will be held expeditiously and those involved in the act will be brought to justice,” he added.
Asked about the revelations made by a former Indian official that New Delhi had planned the Mumbai and parliament attacks‚ the FO spokesman said Islamabad had asked its high commission in New Delhi to approach the Indian government to ascertain the truthfulness of the report attributed to former Indian official Satish Verma.
He said according to the preliminary response‚ India had denied that any such statement had been made by Verma. “We‚ however‚ would ask India to give us more details in this regard.”
About the visit of Pakistan judicial commission to India‚ Chaudhry hoped the visit will stay on course. He said cooperation between Pakistan and India was essential in countering terrorism.
Asked whether Pakistan had the desire to review its policy on drone attacks‚ Chaudhry said the policy of the current government on the matter was not a hidden secret.
“Pakistan has forcefully raised the issue of the drone attacks with the United States‚ which are in violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty as well as that of the international laws.”
He said the drone attacks were counterproductive because these were further fanning militancy. “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.”