Foreign Office Spokesperson Tasneem Aslam during her weekly briefing in Islamabad said, “Dialogue with India is not a favour, but a necessity for peace and development in South Asia.”
The statement came a day after the Indian defence minister drew a new "red line" by saying that Pakistan would have to choose between talking to the Indian government or Kashmiri Hurriyat leadership.
Responding to Arun Jaitley's statement yesterday, the spokesperson said, “All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) leaders are not separatists, but freedom fighters who are carrying out their movement from an occupied territory.”
Jaitley, who holds the portfolio of defence and finance, also said, while addressing the India Economic Summit in New Delhi, that “unless Pakistan makes a conscious choice, a dialogue with Pakistan will not be possible.”
In August, India called off the foreign secretary-level talks with Pakistan, a day after Pakistan’s envoy penciled in meetings with Kashmir’s All Parties Hurriyat Conference leaders in New Delhi.
Since then, both sides have also engaged in border skirmishes, killing dozens along the contentious Line of Control between the two nuclear arch rivals.
“Pakistan does not want to stop trade between India and Afghanistan through its territory,” Aslam remarked on Thursday.
“Afghanistan is a landlocked country and Pakistan has given it access to the international waters. India can use the Karachi Port for trade purposes,” Aslam added.
Referring to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s visit to China, the spokesperson said a number of agreements and MoUs are likely to be signed. She said most of these agreements are in energy sector.
About the evacuation of Pakistanis from Libya, Tasnim said over 3,300 people have been evacuated by special flights of Air Libya and PIA..
PM to visit Germany and Britain
After China, PM Nawaz would also visit Germany and Britain this month to carry forward the process of economic collaboration and investment promotion with the two countries.
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@Rex Minor: Who say it does not? It does and it has also been claimed by act passed by parliament.
Pakistan's rejection of talks on India's legitimate demands to create peaceful environment on border and exclude separatists who do not represent the people of Kashmir may not go well at international level. UN has repeatedly told Pakistan including its recent complaint on firing incident and plebiscite demand that the former will not intervene and asked Pakistan to resolve all problems bilaterally through dialogue and US too echoing the same that no third party should be involved. The international support to India on its just stand isolates Pakistan completely and strengthens India's accusation that its neighbour is bent upon continuing the proxy war which has also been stated in the recent US report and disinterested in talks to resolve the pending issues between the two countries..
@MyLandYourLand: Wow..... your Allah gave you east and west Pakistan and now you just have east. Should I say more ?
@syed baqar ahsan:
lol... wake up kid.
@indian: Then why does'nt the Indian constitution spell out your claim?
Rex Minor
@J.J: @Pakistani: I had given the reply to both of you, but ET in its wisdom chose not to publish it. Suffice to say you first listen to people of so called "Azad Kashmir" before pointing fingers at others. And also read the UN resolutions and ask your govt. to take the first step for its implementation. Hope ET will publish at least this
@goldconsumer:
Aside of your mathematical skills and the private conversation with a Srilankan, who may or may not represent the world opinion, do you have anything to add to subject matter being debated here?
@Candid1: Pakistan has no right to ask India to vacate Kashmir, Kashmir is an integral part of India.
@Alpha Dutch: "In accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions Kashmir is a disputed territory and its fate is to be decided by the people living here through a plebiscite." Bravo, bravo ... What else do u know about the UNSC resolutions on Kashmir ...
@Gp65: "not a single shot has been fired on either side in last 59 years."
What was 1962? Love affair gone bad?? I once asked a Sirilankan, non Tamil dude about India. The responce might get censored here.
@Pakistani: But we already said what we wanted to say.
" Pakistan countered India’s tough stance on dialogue, saying on Thursday that it does not accept conditions on composite dialogue with the neighbouring country, Radio Pakistan reported."
The condition is one that your country has signed as part of the agreement which states that any resolution on Kashmir needs to be bilateral. Getting a 3rd party involved - whether it is Hurriyat or UN is contrary to an agreement that you your self have signed. If you renege on agreements ou have signed, which clearly lay down conditions for talk (bilateral), the onus for no talks is on you.
"“Dialogue with India is not a favour, but a necessity for peace and development in South Asia.”
Speaking from both sides of the mouth I see. Firstly, you want to renege on terms of dialog that your former PM signed with India (bilateral talks) and get Hurriyat (a 3rd party involved) and then you say dialog is a necessity. You also threaten aggression by implying that peace is not possible if there is no dialog.it is indeed possile if Pakistan stops firing. India and China also have a dispute but not a single shot has been fired on either side in last 59 years.
@ Rex Minor I dont know whether you are Indian or Pakistani but thanks for understanding my point. If Indian took its grievance to UN Security Council then it has denied the decision of the same council for nearly 66 years?
I am a Pakistani, and I do not support Kashmir at all. I support their struggle within their own boundary, through. Pakistan has suffered humiliation, loss of life (for something that will never take place), aimless exchange of rhetoric statements.
India must ask its media to stop sending Pakistan-phobic material to its audience (the result can be seen from anti-Pakistan comments by Indians on YouTube etc).
Once again, I reaffirm that I do not support Kashmir at all. They may fight their own fight within their boundary. We have been humiliated too much for supporting different militants.
@Alpha Dutch: You are quite a character!! Who elso could go to UNO, certainly not the Kashmiris who were not recognised as an independent country and Pakistan could not either since they were not the occupation power? India being the occupying power had therefore to address the UNO for its grievences.
Rex Minor
Referring to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s visit to China, the spokesperson said a number of agreements and MoUs are likely to be signed. She said most of these agreements are in energy sector.
There is warehouse full of these MOU's gathering dust somewhere in Pakistan ! Not much of substance, until implemented.
@Sunil: But if there is no Pakistan, what will you do? You will lose your job of spewing hatred and nonsense on Pak newspapers, which you are obviously employed for. Anyway keep dreaming.
India first end its illegal military hold on Kashmir then talk about peace. You can't kill Kashmiris with right hand and preach peace with left. Second war is not a solution as Indians might think India very well know the facts of war.
Pakistan has nothing to discuss with the incarnated leadership of India today who naturaly have the same position on Kashmir that their ancestors had!!
Rex Minor
In accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions Kashmir is a disputed territory and its fate is to be decided by the people living here through a plebiscite. And guess who took the case to Security Council..............yes it was India!
@Tony Singh:
there is no value of BLA in Balochistan.. i challenge you to go for referendum/election to get result how much this Indian funded organization is popular in the province. At the same time we demand you to go for free and fair election in Kashmir and then you will be able to know how much people of Kashmir Hates you.
@ Sunil
Come out from paradise of fool.
@Tony Singh: Have a look at your track record and you will find that you are in absolutely no position to say anything. To start with stop interfering in our affairs and mind your own mess.
@Sunil: @Aman Kantharia: We don't need you dear, you need us! We are not haters... even after you cut our limb off and now trying to bite more out 24/7/365. See! We believe "All land is owned by Allah and he gives to whom he pleases, no one has power over Him.
Finally!!
Excellent, now no more talks with Pakistan. do what you want to do we will do wat we have to.
Befitting reply to Bharat.No doubt Bharat is bigger in size but things which matter we are better.
You are free to have talks with those 'freedom fighters' in Pakistani soil, this nonsense will never be allowed again in India, period.
Excellent response to Indian rambling. If India wants peace in the region, it can't dictate how it would want problem resolved.
If India can place conditions for talks, so should Pakistan: "No talks (or dealings of any kind) with India, until India agrees to end its occupation of Kashmir."
"“All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) leaders are not separatists, but freedom fighters who are carrying out their movement from an occupied territory.”"
That's what BLA also says. Now stop "Zerb-e- Azb" against them. Follow what you preach to others.
There will be not talks and there will be a war. This time we will make sure there is no Pakistan. Kashmir is a part of India, as is occupied India (Pakistan and Bangladesh).