Aggressive Indian tactics will harm regional stability: PM Abbasi

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said on Thursday that India’s aggressive escalatory tactics in shunning dialogue and engagements with Pakistan and its continued blatant human rights violations against the innocent Kashmiri civilians in the Indian occupied Kashmir would not help the prospects of peace and stability in South Asia.

He was speaking to Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono at the PM’s Office in Islamabad.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Abbasi underscored Pakistan’s continued commitment to eradicating militancy from the country’s soil and reiterated commitment to the promotion of peace and stability in the region.

He shared with Foreign Minister Kono various initiatives taken by Pakistan to reach out to its neighbours.

The PM said the government and people of Pakistan had deep warmth and affection for the people of Japan. He said Pakistan attached great importance to its relations with Japan and was keen to enhance cooperation in all areas.

Lauding Japan’s role in the socio-economic development of Pakistan, the prime minister stressed strengthening of cooperation in the areas of trade, investment, infrastructure development and human resource development.

Abbasi expressed satisfaction over the renewed interest of Japanese investors in Pakistan, and noted that there were enormous opportunities available in Pakistan in the wake of sustained economic turnaround and improved security environment.

He also recalled the latest JETRO survey on ‘Japanese Business in Asia’ that had declared Pakistan as the leading country in regards to positive sale profits and future business expansion. He termed it a good indicator of how the two countries could mutually benefit through expanded business cooperation.

The PM also welcomed Prime Minister Abe’s statement on Japan’s readiness to work with other countries in developing infrastructure projects and in availing business opportunities across Asia.

The visiting Japanese minister thanked the prime minister for the warm welcome and also conveyed to him the good wishes of Prime Minister Abe. He said Japan was appreciative of Pakistan’s role in fighting terrorism and extremism, saying Japan acknowledged Pakistan’s immense sacrifices to root out terrorism and extremism from the region.

He said Japan, as a friend, would continue to work with Pakistan for further strengthening bilateral relations.

Meanwhile briefing the media in Islamabad, the deputy press secretary and spokesman of the visiting Japanese Foreign Minister, Toschi Hide Ando, Thursday said that Japan would continue to provide financial and technical assistance for the economic and social uplift of the people of Pakistan besides supporting the country’s war against terrorism.

Ando said that Foreign Affairs Minister Taro Kono during his meeting with his Pakistani counterpart had appreciated Pakistan’s efforts against war on terrorism, which he said was important for the regional peace and stability. Japan would provide support to Pakistan in war on terrorism, he added.

Ando said his foreign minister has discussed bilateral, regional and international issues with his Pakistani counterparts. “They also discussed the issue of non-proliferation and comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban treaty (CTBT).”

Responding to a question, he said Japan appreciates Pakistan’s efforts to eliminate terrorism and would continue to support such efforts. However, he said, Pakistan had some other challenges as well and it had to cope with those as well.

About a question on Pak-India relations, he said Japan appreciated Pakistan’s efforts to bring peace and stability in the region. When asked about his stance on human rights violations being committed by occupying Indian forces, he said that he could not say anything except that Japan was concerned about human rights situation in occupied Kashmir.

To another question, he said regional stability was very important and hoped that efforts were being made to achieve durable peace in the region. Japan’s foreign minister, he said, had expressed his concern on situation in occupied Kashmir and stressed on Pakistan and India to solve their issues through dialogue.

Replying to a query, he said the visit of the foreign minister would strengthen relations between the two countries and would play a role in further cementing the ties between the two nations.

On a question on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), he said the infrastructural project should be open for all and transparent, which he added, was pre-requisite for such projects. He avoided commenting on Japan’s plans to invest or participate in the project.

On a question about Pak-US relations, he said the both countries should constructively cooperate for the elimination of terrorism. On the issue of Palestine, he said two-state solution was the only option to bring peace in that region.