Indo-Pak ties should not be kept hostage to Kashmir dispute: Abdul Basit

Pakistan's High Commissioner to India expresses hope that things will move ahead during his tenure in India

Pakistan and India relations should not be held hostage to the Kashmir dispute, Pakistan's High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit said on Sunday, according to The Hindu.

Basit was addressing the media at Hyderabad Press Club on Sunday.

Upholding that the matter should be resolved through dialogue in a ‘just and fair’ manner, Basit said, “I hope we are able to overcome the problem soon.”

Lamenting over India’s cancellation of foreign-secretary level talks following a meeting between Basit and Hurriyat leaders from Kashmir, the high commissioner said, “India-Pakistan relations were very important and also very complex at the same time. Only a collective effort would yield results.”

“As a diplomat, I am trying to strengthen the ties and I hope during my tenure in India things will move ahead,” Basit added.

Basit hoped the India-Pakistan cricket series would be revived next year. Recently, the Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Shahryar Khan visited India and reached an agreement with the BCCI to play six matches up to 2022.