PM’s adviser sees Modi administration a hurdle in resumption of bilateral dialogue
Pakistan does not expect any breakthrough on resumption of bilateral dialogue with India while the Modi-administration is in-charge of affairs, Adviser to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz said on Tuesday.
Aziz was speaking to reporters after inaugurating the annual conference of the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics.
“India has suspended [the] dialogue process and now it’s their responsibility to resume it,” he said.
Earlier in August, India had called off foreign secretary-level bilateral talks with Pakistan following criticism of Pakistani High Commissioner Abdul Basit’s meeting with Hurriyat leader Shabir Shah.
Aziz also lamented the attitude of the Indian government towards the Kashmir dispute and said that the neighbouring country wanted to link Kashmir with terrorism to divert the world’s attention.
“Over the last 40 years bilateralism has failed on Kashmir and that’s why Pakistan wanted to engage international community on the matter,” he remarked.
Aziz said that friendship with India could only be possible without compromising on our self-respect, honour and equality.
In December last year, Pakistan and India had pledged to uphold the 2003 LoC ceasefire accord which had been left in tatters by repeated violations that year. The truce breaches had put the nascent bilateral peace dialogue on hold.
The Himalayan territory of Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan by the UN-monitored de facto border of LoC but is claimed in full by both the countries.
Sajad Lone, former pro-Pakistan Kashmiri separatist with Pakistani wife, now is pro-Indian and had a friendly meeting with PM Narendra Modi.
The voter turnout in Indian Occupied Kashmir is 72% showing that Indian democracy is being accepted in Jammu & Kashmir! Even the BJP has a chance of winning, or at least get a decent number of seats.
India has constructed rail link from Jammu through Srinagar, all the way to Baramulla. The airport in Srinagar has been upgraded and is now an international airport. Now India is planning an expressway, large road network with bridges in Indian Occupied Kashmir as well as many other infrastructure projects. Even private companies are starting to invest in infrastructure, tourism and industrial projects for economic development.
If Pakistan causes the issue to stay alive then in 10 years time, Azad Kashmir will want to join India. Pakistan can forget Kashmir issue now and concentrate in economic and social development.
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