Pakistan has never shied away from talks with India: FO

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday said it believed that durable peace, security and development in the region hinged on a peaceful resolution of the long-standing Jammu and Kashmir dispute.

“We, therefore, believe that the two sides (India and Pakistan) need to discuss all outstanding issues including Jammu and Kashmir with a view to seek peaceful resolution of this long outstanding dispute as per international legitimacy,” Foreign Office spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said in response to a question during the weekly press briefing.

The spokesperson said that Pakistan had never shied away from talks with India and had always underscored the need for a “meaningful dialogue” and peaceful resolution of all outstanding disputes, including the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir.

“Therefore, Kashmir remains central to any meaningful engagement between India and Pakistan,” he maintained. The spokesperson said that unfortunately, India had vitiated the environment through its illegal and unilateral actions of 5 August, 2019.

“The onus is, therefore, on India to create an enabling and conducive environment for a meaningful and result-oriented dialogue between the two countries,” he added. To another question, the spokesperson said Pakistan believed that the international community including the Muslim world must use all tools at its disposal to urge India to rescind its illegal and unilateral actions since 5 August, 2019 and to end its human rights violations in IIOJ&K.

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has passed multiple resolutions condemning India on its human rights violations in IIOJ&K and calling for the just and peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions, he said.

To another question, the spokesperson said that Pakistan had not entered into any bilateral procurement agreement for COVID-19 vaccine from India. In response to a question, the spokesperson described as “unfortunate” the false spin by Indian media or any official statement alleging that Sikh Yatrees were stranded in Pakistan.

To a question regarding attack on Iran’s nuclear site, the spokesperson said Pakistan had a principled position on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). “The return of the parties to the negotiating table is a welcome development. Any efforts to sabotage the Vienna talks need to be discouraged,” he said.

Responding to a question about the report of US National Intelligence Council regarding the possibility of war between Pakistan and India in the next five years, the spokesperson said: “Pakistan is a peace loving country. We continue to promote peace, security and stability in the region for the prosperity of our own country and of the South Asian region on the whole.”

He recalled the speech of Prime Minister Imran Khan in which he had stated that “if India takes one step forward for peace, Pakistan will take two”.

To a question about the recent US announcement to withdraw its forces from Afghanistan, he said Pakistan has been consistently supporting and facilitating the efforts for durable peace and stability in Afghanistan.

“Towards this end, the US-Taliban Agreement of 29 February, 2020 laid foundation for a comprehensive intra-Afghan peace agreement including a permanent ceasefire for bringing an end to violence in Afghanistan,” he added.