ISLAMABAD
Pakistan on Thursday reiterated that durable peace in the region is linked to resolution of all issues and disputes between Pakistan and India, including the Kashmir issue.
Foreign Office (FO) spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam in her weekly briefing said that the two countries have a framework to discuss the issues and dispute comprising eight-point agenda but the process stands disrupted for the last three years.
She said Pakistan looks forward to resumption of the dialogue process with India for the sake of regional peace and in order to allow the two countries to focus on economic development.
To a question, she said Pakistan is a recognised and legitimate party to Jammu and Kashmir dispute. Commenting on the relations Pakistan will have with India if Narendra Modi wins elections, the spokeswoman said, “We deal with countries and it is for the people of India to elect whoever they deem fit.”
Referring to the comments of an Afghan official about talks with the Taliban, she said talks were internal matter of Pakistan and nobody has the right to interfere. She pointed out that the Afghan government itself is keen to talk with the Taliban.
While welcoming the successful conduct of elections in Afghanistan, Tasnim Aslam said the continuation of democracy was vital for peace and stability in the region. She said Pakistan extended consistent support for security and successful conduct of Afghan elections and took a number of measures to reinforce existing security arrangements.
Highlighting the measures taken by Pakistan with reference to Afghan elections, she said, these included enhanced vigilance and security along entire length of Pak-Afghan border; sealing of all the crossing points, deployment of additional troops, aerial surveillance, and enhanced communication through Border Coordination Centres.
She said on the Afghan government’s request, border crossing points at Torkham and Chaman were kept open to enable eligible Afghan voters in Pakistan to go to Afghanistan to use their right of vote.
The spokeswoman said Pakistan would work with the next Afghan government and try to give further impetus to bilateral relations in all fields.
To a question about the visit of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to Iran, the spokesperson said that dates of the visit are being finalized and it is likely to take place in the first half of the current year.
She said meeting of Pakistan-US working group on law enforcement and counter-terrorism would take place very soon. To another question, she said that Pakistan-Russian Federation relations were on a very positive trajectory for sometime now. She said a high level committee has been constituted to sort out issues relating to trade and economic cooperation between Pakistan and Russian Federation and once this is done, the relations with Russia would see a great leap forward.
