Pakistan urges India to adopt dialogue process to resolve issues

ISLAMABAD, Aug 22 (APP): Expressing its grave concern on the recent incidents of violation of cease-fire across Line of Control in Kashmir, Pakistan Thursday urged India to adopt the process of dialogue to resolve issues and buildtrust between the two countries. Foreign Office spokesman Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry in his weekly briefing here at Foreign Office today asked the Indian leadership to adopt patience like Pakistan has been showing to reduce tension across LoC. Referring to the statements of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the spokesman said Pakistan has once again called upon India to reciprocate its policy of restraint, responsibility and dialogue for the larger interest of peace in the region. He said India should stop cease-fire violations and other provocations.

Expressing concerns over yesterday’s violation at Line of Control,in the Shaqma Sector, in Kargil, which resulted in the martyrdom of a Pakistan Army captain and injury to another solider, the spokesman said Pakistan has conveyed its distress to the Indian government and the Indian Deputy High Commissioner in Islamabad was summoned to the Foreign Office to convey Pakistan’s protest, concern and sentiments.

He said a strong protest was lodged over the unprovoked firing by Indian army soldiers in the Shaqma sector, Kargil, which resulted in the martyrdom of a Pakistan Army captain and injury to another soldier.
The spokesman said Pakistan conveyed its serious concern on the continued violations of the cease-fire across the LoC by the Indian Army over the past few weeks and the escalation of tensions and told India that it is counterproductive and detrimental for stability and peace in the region.
He said as Pakistan is committed to a constructive, sustained and result-oriented process of engagement it called upon India to take serious and credible measures to prevent further cease-fire violations and reduce tensions.
The spokesman said Pakistan’s desire for peace should not be construed as its weakness and made it clear that the country’s people and institutions are capable to defend its territory and interests at all cost.
“Our peace overtures are essentially in the interest of the region and the two countries.”
When asked about the doubts about the meeting betweenthe prime ministers of two countries in New York in September,Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry said the leadership of Pakistan is prepared to use thatoccasion to build confidence and remove the trust deficit.
He said all channels of communications should remain open as suspension of dialogue process will serve the objectives of those who do not want peace in the region.
He said offer of dialogue to India by Pakistan did not mean that Pakistan has given up its stance on Kashmir and referred the recent address of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in which he categorically stated that Jammu Kashmir issue is still unresolved issues between Pakistan and India and it has to be resolved.
He said Kashmir issue always remained on the agenda in the dialogue process between Pakistan and India.
The spokesman said there are many methods to check and stop the violation of cease-fire across LoC and one of them is United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) which is responsible for monitoring any violation across LoC.
Replying to a question, the spokesman said the Afghan President Hamid Karzai will visit Pakistan in the last week of this month to discuss bilateral issues, trade and economic ties and the regional situation especially in the context of post-2014 scenario.
He said Pakistan and Afghanistan had very close ties and leaders of both the countries are talking each other to further improve bilateral relations.
Replying to a spokesman about the release of Mullah Baradar. The spokesman said he could not say anything on such issues but assured that Pakistan will take all possible measures to facilitate Afghan-led and Afghan-owned reconciliation process to ensure peace and stability in the region.
Expressing concern on the latest development in Syria, the spokesman said Pakistan has still diplomatic relations with Syria and its mission is working there. He said foreign office is in close contact with its ambassador in Syria.