Pak has expressed optimism that with forward movement towards the resolution of disputes between the two countries tension will reduce and lower arms race.
LAHORE: Pakistan on Tuesday while expressing optimism on forward movement in the dialogue process with India said it desired resolution of all outstanding disputes with India, particularly the Jammu & Kashmir issue.
At a weekly press briefing in Islamabad, Pakistan’s foreign office spokesperson Ms Tasneem Aslam said the spirit behind the peace talks with India is to resolve all disputes between the two countries and particularly the issue of Kashmir.
Ms Aslam expressed optimism that with forward movement towards the resolution of disputes between the two countries tension will reduce and lower arms race. However she defended Pakistan’s missile tests, saying these were part of maintaining minimum deterrence and balance of power which, she added, will continue in future as well.
Regarding the proposal by Mir Waiz Umar Farooq to involve China in the settlement of Kashmir dispute, she said that according to UN resolution, there are only two parties to this dispute which are India and Pakistan. She said Mir Waiz’s contention to involve China may be on the ground that China is the largest and an influential country in the region and may help to move forward the dialogue process.
The spokesperson said Pakistan and India were not indulging in any coveted diplomacy to resolve Kashmir issue, but said they were engaged in interaction at different levels to settle the issue. This involved diplomatic and back channel diplomacy and the dialogue process.
To another question, the spokesperson said Indian leaders have admitted that infiltration level has reduced in Indian Occupied Kashmir and said subsequently Pakistan believes that human rights violations will also come down in the Valley. She said Pakistan has already proposed demilitarisation in the valley and said India should at least decrease its forces from the urban areas to reduce human rights violations.
To another question regarding improving visa regime between the two countries, Ms. Tasneem Aslam said both countries have agreed to establish Consulates in Karachi and Mumbai.
She said Pakistan had acquired land in Mumbai to set up its Consulate and after lengthy litigation the Court has given a decision in Pakistan’s favour. However later the land owner apologised and declined to hand over the land, saying it will create security problems for himself and Pakistanis. She said Pakistan was now looking for a few site to construct its Consulate.
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