Prime Minister’s Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj
Aziz. PHOTO: REUTERS
“The dialogue process with India would be meaningless without the core issue of Kashmir on agenda,” the prime minister’s senior aide said during a joint press conference with US Secretary of State John Kerry who is on a two-day visit to Pakistan.
“Pakistan wanted a constructive, sustained and result-oriented dialogue with India on all issues of mutual concern,” Aziz emphasised.
His statements come after Kerry earlier in the day urged India and Pakistan to return to peace talks.
"It is profoundly in the interests of Pakistan and India to move their relationship forward," he told reporters in Islamabad.
"This is the hardest kind of work. It means you have to put a lot of time and effort into overcoming historical mistrust and past events, enmities," the secretary of state added.
Washington would do whatever it could to help, the top US diplomat said, but he stressed it was ultimately up to the two sides to resolve their differences.
The adviser maintained that India singlehandedly cancelled foreign secretary-level with Pakistan scheduled for August last year after the Pakistan High Commissioner in New Delhi held talks with Hurriyet leaders and now the onus was on them to initiate dialogue.
Aziz said recent incidents of unprovoked and indiscriminate firing by India on the Line of Control and working boundary were a source of serious concern to Pakistan.
“Pakistan wants peaceful relations with all its neighbours, both on the eastern and western borders," he said, hoping that the US would play its role in resolving the issues with India for regional peace and prosperity.
Recent exchanges of fire across the LoC have killed more than two dozen civilians and forced thousands to flee their homes.
The US remains "deeply concerned by the increasing spate of increased violence along the working boundary and the Line of Control", Kerry said.
Kerry further said he would continue to encourage the two sides to move forward and hold dialogue to resolve the issue.
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@Surinder:
Kashmir belongs to the KASHMIRIS not to either "India" or "Pakistan". As for the "ancestral lands" in Arabia, Pakistan has no claim on Saudi territory, nor have we ever asserted one.
Talking about who belongs where is also futile. You can try to take "POK" all you like but that is not a realistic aim. The Pakistan Army is there to make sure of that.
what nonsense! why on earth, a completely dead issue, that nobody in india gives a damn about, should be the condition for dialogues? As far as i can remember pakistan went on to international forums countless number of times complaining about this. Well, it's still there, and with NaMo in government, it will soon become an issue 60 feet under. This issue becomes a popular one whenever there occurs any problem to create a diversion. This has become something of an ego matter. Why, when time is money??!!
@Sajad Ali Khan: "It is noted Kashmiri people rebel against India and not Pakistan Why?" U r talking only about those Kashmiri muslims wanting seperation from india, correct ???
The only way to teach India is to shaft it in Kashmir. Salams
just wait & watch Mr. Aziz your Government will bow to MODI(Its just matter of time when)
@Sajad Ali Khan: Kashmir belongs to India. Your own "intellectuals" claim that you are from Arabia, go ask for your ancestral lands in Arabia. We Indians are from this region and we belong here. We'll take PoK even if we come down to the last man.
" No question of talks with India without Kashmir on agenda: Aziz" ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Now the other Paki minister will issue a statement " No question of talks with India without Siachen on agenda: " And then replace Siachin with Kargil, Baluchistan , blah blah.
this is a useless statement, like he said anything new !! This has been pakistan's stance forever now ! what a waste of time. Nothing has happened for over 60 yrs and nothing will !!
I dint think many people in India lost their sleep last night. Mr. Aziz is welcome to come chat with us when he ready on our terms. Take your time There is no rush.
@Zog:
"If India is not prepared to discuss it, then we need to start and international campaign for the implementation of UN Resolutions on Kashmir"
India is willing to discuss Kashmir. What it is not prepared to do is have Pakistan talk to Indian insurgents. Having said that, Pakistan has been campaigning internationally for 67 years. There was a point when US supported it. It no longer does. Nor does UN. Infact even OIC does not care any more. It is your government that called envoys of P-5 and asked them to persuade India to talk.
"You will see in Europe now many countries have started recognising Palestine, it is just a matter of time that they focus on teh murder of 100,000 civilians, thousands of rape and other human rights abuses by the Indian Army in Kashmir."
First of all 100,000 people were killed in Kashmir but not all were civilians. A large number were foreign proxies armed and funded by Pakistan. Many were Kashmiri pandits and other civilians killed by the Pakistani civilians and some were Indian soldiers and police. All this violence took place only after 1989 when Pakistan started pushing proxies. There was no violence and no deaths between 1947 and 1989 other than in wars started by Pakistan as admitted by Asghar Khan.
A very rational stance and about time the PML(N) govt stop bowing down to India's every whim and fancy. Just because the Sharif family and their stooges have businesses in India, does not mean the whole country has to bow down to India. India has been issuing threats and war-waging language against Pakistan since this Modi govt came to power. About time, Pakistan stand up to not only these terror outfits on its soil but also give a tit-for-tat response to India.
Kashmir is obviously the core issue between India and Pakistan and Mr. Aziz is right that there is no point in any dialogue with India as long as the Government there sticks to its hard line that Pakistan is "Occupying" Indian territory. Both countries must resolve the issue in line with the aspirations of Kashmiris. The Kashmiri people need to be taken into confidence and a resolution to the issue must be achieved diplomatically. Whether that resolution is the acceptance of the LOC as an international border or something else is a secondary matter. One thing is clear, neither country will achieve anything through military means.
@Xoxo: India will outspent Pakistan in defense budget. It will drain Pakistan and there will be attrition. No favourable out come for Pakistan.
Good job, Aziz. It was long due statement.
Kashmir belongs to Kashmir people not Pakistan and not India. People are not property of any country. Land belongs to people. If all kashmiris want to be with India or Pakistan let them decide, It is noted Kashmiri people rebel against India and not Pakistan Why? Even though India richer than Pakistan. Pakistan army not raping and torturing Kashmiris, its Indian Army that is abusing Kashmiris. If Indian army treated Kashmiri people decentl they won't need to rebel against India.
What is the point of talks on Kashmir? If talks are held, India would say it's internal part, Pakistani side would talk about plebiscite and together they would decide dates for next round. It's waste of taxpayers money on both sides. Make a no war pact and adress more pressing issues like poverty and trade with understanding that we could discuss the issue after 25 years. Hopefully the next generation would not have much of this hatred and can actually give and take to resolve the issue.
Kashmir has to be the last item on the agenda. Let other problems be solved first. Put Pakistan in order first.
What it there to discuss about Kashmir? It is a dead issue. Too much water has flowed under the bridge. If anything, the only issue is with regard to the illegal occupation of the portion of Kashmir/GB/norther areas. Pakistan is wasting resources and time on a dead issue. The battle has been lost.
@Zog:
"If India is not prepared to discuss it, then we need to start and international campaign for the implementation of UN Resolutions on Kashmir"
And silly me was all this while thinking Pakistan kept running to the UN for this very issue - and no one was listening!
Now, if we were to discuss the very first clause of the UN resolution of 1948, then we'd be talking. You wouldn't find that too convenient, would you?
@Zog: I recall that the total withdrawal of pakistani army forces from Kashmir was part of those UN Resolutions dealing with Kashmir! You of course support that move, don't you??!
Pakistan wants to include Kashmir in discussion is another way of keeping status quo and doing nothing to improve relationship.
Do Pakistani want to improve what they have or spend their resources and lives on something that is almost impossible to get? By all measures Baluchistan, FATA & KP are destabilized and little chance that they will get better in next 3-5 years. But rather than fixing what it has Pakistan wants to dream about Kashmir. This may be a smart tactic to divert people's attention from problem at home.
Kashmir is ofcourse the primary cause of tension between India and Pakistan and has to be discussed. Pakistanis want a good relationship with India.
If India is not prepared to discuss it, then we need to start and international campaign for the implementation of UN Resolutions on Kashmir.
You will see in Europe now many countries have started recognising Palestine, it is just a matter of time that they focus on teh murder of 100,000 civilians, thousands of rape and other human rights abuses by the Indian Army in Kashmir.
Without Kashmir issue there is no place for Hawks like him..He is the original architect of the Nationalization of Dollar denominated foreign accounts that triggered such a capital flight that the rupee dollar parity went from 46 Pak rupees to 103 Pak Rupees per USD . Such acts amount to High Treason.
If Pakistan wants UN resolution then it should move its army or fight case in UN. What exactly Pakistan can get with talks on Kashmir other than making LOC to international border? Also I don't see any harm in resolving issues other than Kashmir.
You can not dictate your policy on other and you make clear your stance so it is not obligatory for India to resume talk with you as Modi sarkar is different than precedent sarkar , where USA twist arms of congress govt and they have to obey the rule now you can see even USA keep silence and not push India for dialogue
rational stance