Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit on Saturday said dialogue was the only way forward to resolve all outstanding issues, including the core Jammu and Kashmir dispute, between Islamabad and New Delhi.
“India will have to understand that Jammu and Kashmir is a core issue, which needs to be resolved to achieve mutual trust and take forward the goal of regional progress through SAARC (South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation),” he said while talking to PTV on phone from New Delhi.
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Abdul Basit said war was not an option for the two countries, as it could hamper their economic development. “God forbids, if there is any war, it would also frustrate the Indian economic agenda,” he remarked.
To a question, he said various observers in New Delhi believed that internal political situation derived the Indian policy on Pakistan and the current tension between the two countries would subside after the upcoming elections in the Indian states of Uttar Pardesh and Punjab.
To another question, High Commissioner Basit said Pakistan had a principled stance on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, which could not be resolved since 1947, and it would continue to pursue the issue at all international fora.
He said Pakistan was ready to hold dialogue with India on all issues, but would not accept any bilateral engagement that did not include the core dispute of Jammu and Kashmir.
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