FM says Pakistan will not compromise on Kashmir

• Asif calls for honouring Indus Water Treaty to ensure regional peace

Minister for Foreign Affairs Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said that Pakistan will not compromise on Kashmir issue, as atrocities in Indian-held territory continue to take place.

Speaking to media in Sialkot, where he said that peace in Pakistan and India was linked to Kashmir and durable peace cannot be achieved without addressing this core issue. He said that the foreign policy was in line with the wishes of Pakistanis and the country’s interests.

He said that efforts were underway to bring relations with India back on track but not getting a positive answer from the other side. He said that Pakistan wants good relations with Afghanistan too, but India would also have to play a part in this.

Asif said that Pakistan has been fighting against terrorism since decades and it has reduced compared to before. He also called for honouring the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) in order to ensure regional peace.

He warned that any misadventure would eventually create unrest in the South Asian region. He said that Pakistan was a peace-loving country and wanted cordial relations with regional countries on equal basis. “We are showing flexibility just for the cause of peace in the region,” he said.

It should not be construed as weakness, he said, adding that Pakistan was fully capable to defend its geographical boundaries. He pointed out that India had been resorting to violations of the ceasefire agreement at the Line of Control.