Uninterupted talks only way forward for Pakistan, India: Abdul Basit

Dialogue is the only way to improve ties between Islamabad and New Delhi, says Pakistani diplomat

Pakistan's High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit called on Sunday for uninterrupted dialogue between Islamabad and New Delhi to ensure peace and stability in the region.

While addressing a function in Jaipur, the capital of India’s Rajasthan state, Basit said a comprehensive dialogue was the only way to improve ties between the arch-rivals.

Citing the Kashmir dispute as a root cause of all issues between the two nuclear-armed nations, the Pakistani diplomat stressed that the environment of cooperation must persist for resolution of the disputes between the two countries.

Pathankot attack: Pakistan dismisses Indian allegations as unhelpful

Pakistan and India have a long history of animosity dating back to independence from Britain in 1947, and have fought three wars.

Relations between Islamabad and New Delhi have soured after a rare targeting of an Indian military installation in Pathankot, outside the disputed Kashmir region, in January which occurred just days after the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s residence in Lahore on a surprise visit in December.

Following the attack India accused Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed for the assault on its Pathankot air base in the northern state of Punjab, which had triggered two days of gun battles.

India and Pakistan — prisoners of the past

It led to the postponement of peace talks planned between the nuclear-armed neighbours, with Modi urging PM Nawaz to take “firm and immediate action”.

The foreign secretaries of the two countries had been scheduled to meet in January, however, a fresh date for talks is yet to be announced.