NEW DELHI: Pakistan High Commissioner in New Delhi Abdul Basit Wednesday reiterated that Kashmiri people are the prime party to Kashmir dispute and his meeting with pro-freedom leaders of Kashmir was legitimate.
He said that Pakistan has been meeting them (separatist leaders) for the past several years and it has been a long-standing practice. He said that it is important to engage with all stakeholders and that is the bottom-line.
Talking to reporters in New Delhi, Pakistan High Commissioner said that Kashmiri people are legitimate stakeholders of Kashmir dispute and in no way his meeting with them is illegal and illegitimate.
You have your national position, we have ours. We have to look at this issue dispassionately, Abdul Basit said.
Basit was reacting on the decision of India to call off Foreign Secretary level talks with Pakistan after he met Kashmiri separatist leaders at his Embassy office in New Delhi.
Pakistan High Commissioner made it clear that Pakistan wants good relationship with India and it is always in favour of peace in the region.
The cancellation of talks between two countries is set back but time has come for the two countries to move from confrontation to co-operation, he said adding that they are convinced that their problems with India can only be resolved by result-oriented and meaningful dialogue.
He said that Pakistan has always stood by its commitment to peace and attaches enormous importance to peaceful bilateral relationship.
He said that if, Pakistan and India work together and if SAARC is vitalised, I can assure you that sky is the limit.
Commenting further on the peace dialogue, Basit stressed that there is no reason why we should lose hope on building a strong bilateral relationship. We would not allow this process to be distracted, he said adding that dialogue is not a favour by Pakistan to India or vice-versa but both countries need to work together.
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
| ACT NOW |
| MONTHLY | Rs 100 |  |
| YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
| LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |
