Core issue: Kashmiri leadership should be part of dialogue between India-Pakistan, says FO
Pakistan expresses concern at the repression of human rights in Kashmir.
Foreign Office says Pakistan wants to solve issues through diaogue. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
With the meeting of Prime Minister’s Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz with Kashmiri leaders raising eyebrows during his trip to Delhi, the foreign office on Wednesday reiterated that Pakistan believes Kashmiris should be part of the dialogue between the two nuclear armed neighbours.
During Wednesday’s briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affiars, spokesperson Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry was asked about the meeting between Aziz and Hurriyet conference leaders on the side lines of the Asia-Europe Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (ASEM).
“It is customary that when our Foreign Minster or Foreign Secretary go to India for official commitment, they do consult Kashmiri leaders,” Chaudhry said.
Reminding that this was not the first time a Pakistani official had met with Kashmiri leaders while on an official visit to India, he said that this was “an important activity” for Pakistan.
“We believe that the Kashmir issue is the core dispute between the two countries that needs to be resolved. We further believe that Kashmiri leadership ought to be associated with the dialogue process between India and Pakistan.”
He added that Pakistan has always affirmed our moral and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri people for their struggle to self-determine their destiny.
He also said that Pakistan was concerned over the repression of human rights in Kashmir by how Muharram processions had been banned. “Repression by the Indian forces and human right violations in the Indian occupied Kashmir are a matter of concern to us.”
Adding how several human rights organizations have also reported on this aspect, the spokesperson said that the solution lies in finding a durable solution of the Kashmir issue by engaging in a meaningful dialogue between Pakistan and India.
Expanding on the meeting between Aziz and the Indian External Affairs Minister, and National Security Advisor, the spokesperson said that the meetings were held in constructive and cordial atmosphere in which all substantive issues were discussed including Line of Control and restarting the dialogue process.
“Pakistan believes that the dialogue process is the most effective way to resolve outstanding issues and improve relations.”
The spokesperson revealed that on Wednesday, Aziz had met with Indian premier Manmohan Singh where he had reaffirmed the Pakistan’s desire to have good neighbourly relations with India. “The need to address all outstanding issues through dialogue process was also affirmed.”
Line of Control
Asked about the expected meeting between Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of forces deployed on the Line of Control (LoC) and the working border, the spokesperson said that they had twice made contact in October.
“The two DG MOs had contact on October 25 and 29, 2013 and concurred to normalise the situation along the LoC and the Working Boundary.”
He also pointed towards the sectoral flag meeting was also held between Pakistan Rangers and Indian Border Security Force on October 29 and both sides agreed to observe ceasefire and resolve issues through local level flag meetings.
“Pakistan remains committed to implementing the decision of the two Prime Ministers that the DG MOs should meet to address the issues of ceasefire violations on the LoC,” he said but did not provide a timeline when it would happen.
“Pakistan believes that the ceasefire agreement of 2003 should be respected.”
Status of upto 54,000 Pakistan unresolved in Saudi Arabia
With clashes between unregularised workers and Suadi authorities in Riyadh saw three Ethiopian workers being killed earlier in the week, the foreign office spokesperson said that there could be as many as 54,000 Pakistanis whose status is as yet unresolved.
“I understand the status of more than 800,000 Pakistanis has been regularised.”
He added that cases of over-stayers and others are still being processed.
“This number could be 54,000.”
The spokesperson said that the Embassy in Riyadh is in close contact with the Saudi authorities and is rendering all possible help to these Pakistanis.
Nearly two million Pakistanis live and work in Saudi Arabia.
With the meeting of Prime Minister’s Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz with Kashmiri leaders raising eyebrows during his trip to Delhi, the foreign office on Wednesday reiterated that Pakistan believes Kashmiris should be part of the dialogue between the two nuclear armed neighbours.
During Wednesday’s briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affiars, spokesperson Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry was asked about the meeting between Aziz and Hurriyet conference leaders on the side lines of the Asia-Europe Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (ASEM).
“It is customary that when our Foreign Minster or Foreign Secretary go to India for official commitment, they do consult Kashmiri leaders,” Chaudhry said.
Reminding that this was not the first time a Pakistani official had met with Kashmiri leaders while on an official visit to India, he said that this was “an important activity” for Pakistan.
“We believe that the Kashmir issue is the core dispute between the two countries that needs to be resolved. We further believe that Kashmiri leadership ought to be associated with the dialogue process between India and Pakistan.”
He added that Pakistan has always affirmed our moral and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri people for their struggle to self-determine their destiny.
He also said that Pakistan was concerned over the repression of human rights in Kashmir by how Muharram processions had been banned. “Repression by the Indian forces and human right violations in the Indian occupied Kashmir are a matter of concern to us.”
Adding how several human rights organizations have also reported on this aspect, the spokesperson said that the solution lies in finding a durable solution of the Kashmir issue by engaging in a meaningful dialogue between Pakistan and India.
Expanding on the meeting between Aziz and the Indian External Affairs Minister, and National Security Advisor, the spokesperson said that the meetings were held in constructive and cordial atmosphere in which all substantive issues were discussed including Line of Control and restarting the dialogue process.
“Pakistan believes that the dialogue process is the most effective way to resolve outstanding issues and improve relations.”
The spokesperson revealed that on Wednesday, Aziz had met with Indian premier Manmohan Singh where he had reaffirmed the Pakistan’s desire to have good neighbourly relations with India. “The need to address all outstanding issues through dialogue process was also affirmed.”
Line of Control
Asked about the expected meeting between Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of forces deployed on the Line of Control (LoC) and the working border, the spokesperson said that they had twice made contact in October.
“The two DG MOs had contact on October 25 and 29, 2013 and concurred to normalise the situation along the LoC and the Working Boundary.”
He also pointed towards the sectoral flag meeting was also held between Pakistan Rangers and Indian Border Security Force on October 29 and both sides agreed to observe ceasefire and resolve issues through local level flag meetings.
“Pakistan remains committed to implementing the decision of the two Prime Ministers that the DG MOs should meet to address the issues of ceasefire violations on the LoC,” he said but did not provide a timeline when it would happen.
“Pakistan believes that the ceasefire agreement of 2003 should be respected.”
Status of upto 54,000 Pakistan unresolved in Saudi Arabia
With clashes between unregularised workers and Suadi authorities in Riyadh saw three Ethiopian workers being killed earlier in the week, the foreign office spokesperson said that there could be as many as 54,000 Pakistanis whose status is as yet unresolved.
“I understand the status of more than 800,000 Pakistanis has been regularised.”
He added that cases of over-stayers and others are still being processed.
“This number could be 54,000.”
The spokesperson said that the Embassy in Riyadh is in close contact with the Saudi authorities and is rendering all possible help to these Pakistanis.
Nearly two million Pakistanis live and work in Saudi Arabia.