Pakistan

Kashmir issue to be tackled through back-channel diplomacy: Aziz

Aziz says Nawaz, Modi agreed to resolve outstanding issues of Kashmir, Siachen, and Sir Creek during Russia meeting

Web Desk July 12, 2015

Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz. PHOTO: REUTERS

ISLAMABAD: Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said on Saturday Pakistan and India have decided to resolve the longstanding disputes of Kashmir, Siachen, and Sir Creek through ‘back-channel diplomacy’.

“Both leaders were of the opinion that for lasting peace the way forward was to address the outstanding issues like Kashmir, Siachen and Sir Creek,” Aziz said, regarding the meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in Ufa, Russia on Friday.

"The two sides also agreed to take up these issues under the back-channel Track-II mechanism for better understanding of each other's point of view," Aziz added.

Read: South Asian engagement: US, UN welcome Nawaz-Modi meeting

Aziz's statement comes after backlash from opposition parties over not mentioning the Kashmir dispute in a joint statement issued by the foreign secretaries of Pakistan and India after Russia talks.

The two south Asian nuclear-tipped rivals agreed to revive the stalled dialogue process, according to a joint statement issued on Friday.

Further, claiming the meeting between the two leaders was held in a good atmosphere as both sides upheld peace in the region was vital for progress, Aziz said, “The two sides believe in combating poverty, instead of fighting each other.”

Read: Pakistan-India ties: All issues on security advisers’ table, says Rashid

Aziz pointed out that the meeting was useful in lessening tension and for better understanding of each other’s point of view.

“The first priority is to lessen tensions on the Line of Control and the two sides have agreed to activate the mechanism of meetings between the Border Security Force and Pakistan Rangers,” he added.

Further, the United States has welcomed the meeting between the two premiers and the announcement for resumption of stalled dialogue.

This article originally appeared on The Times of India

COMMENTS (10)

Khan | 8 years ago | Reply It is widely known that Manmohan Singh and Musharraf already came to a tentative resolution on Kashmir that involved some degree of joint control and autonomy for the region, as well as conversion of the LOC into a soft border over which Indian and Pakistani citizens could visit both sides of Kashmir. Border checkpoints would not be on LOC, but would be between Kashmir and Pakistan/India to ensure that Indians entering Pakistan Kashmir cannot enter Pakistan's other provinces, and vice versa. That way Pakistanis could easily visit Jammu, but would still need visas to travel from Jammu to Amritsar. Indians could visit Mirpur and Muzaffarabad without visa, but could not simply travel on towards Sialkot or Lahore without a visa. Although with peace, I'm sure that India and Pakistan would eventually drop visa requirements or implement a visa-on-arrival scheme. This will probably be the "solution" if we ever see one. It is almost the perfect solution given the ground realities. It will be difficult for Pakistan to press for more, and difficult for India to offer less now that previous governments had already agreed to a solution in spirit. Even Modi knows he can't just invade Pakistan Kashmir, and BJP knows that Kashmiris want peace with Pakistan more than they want integration with India. We could have resolved this in 2008 if our Qadri-loving lawyers didn't agitate at exactly the wrong time.

miristan | 8 years ago | Reply Pakistan do not have a foreign Minster, guys who should have retired long time ago are the adviser of foreign ministry.this guy is Aziz is a spokesman of ministry or a chumcha of Nawaz. All negotiation should be open straightforward no hidden agenda,We are talking about the slavery of Kamaries in 21st century.

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a_writer | 8 years ago | Reply Other than an efficient terror network, what else does Pakistan have to offer to 'negotiate' about Kashmir with India? The whole world is united about stamping out terrorism in all its form. So, now what? You can have back channel, front channel or side channel diplomacy. If you cannot face the stark reality that India will not willingly hand over Kashmir to Pakistan and Pakistan will settle for nothing less, these negotiations will be as fruitless as it will be endless.

Pakistan | 8 years ago | Reply "Kashmir issue to be tackled through back-channel diplomacy": Aziz This means Kashmir will never be tackled as long as Nawaz Sharif is Prime Minister. Backd channel means Sharif business. Can the PM of a country be so disloyal.

Indian | 8 years ago | Reply Front or back channel, it will not make one iota of difference. Both nations will not budge from their stand. What is there to talk about? I am not being negative, I am being a realist. The sooner we understand it, the sooner we will be able to work around this issue.

Straight Person | 8 years ago | Reply "Kashmir issue to be tackled through back-channel diplomacy" Back Channel? LOL. I wonder how back channel would help better understand an already understood dispute, let alone solve it, unless, of course, the purpose is some personal fun?

vicktor d'souza | 8 years ago | Reply @Sodomite: Really, Bonga Master of Gujrat should release that joint UN-GoI report on nutrition and health in India with its damning account on the utterly dire situation in Gujrat when Bonga Master was supposed to be in charge !

Kashmir? | 8 years ago | Reply "Kashmir issue to be tackled through back-channel diplomacy: Aziz" And it will take how many centuries and innocent lives ahead. Both India and Pakistan must need to learn from history and free Kashmir and its innocent people. Kashmir wants freedom from both India and Pakistan. Both the country honestly let Kashmir free...it will be in the best interest of both countries. In 1980 the era of occupation had finished and this is the era of socio-economic development. Like having two kids instead of dozen to feed and taking care of. If both India and Pakistan just try to manage the territory they have then it would be more then enough. In both the countries the rate of education, living standards,socio-economic development is quite low. While millions are below poverty line and sleeping without food. The industry is about to non and the nations are in consistent crisis. Similarly corruption, institutional crisis,lack of good governance and justice it higher. Hence better to understand now then 1000 years later. Be mature and honest with humanity and petty on your creeping Nations.

Disgusting | 8 years ago | Reply This is an admission of anti Pakistan policy by none other than our Prime Minister. This also refutes the statement of village idiot in today's paper.

Sodomite | 8 years ago | Reply Aziz cannot confront "Yoga Master Modi" who is really a Born Again "Yoda" of Star Wars fame, in Kashmir's future?? Does Aziz have a Laser Sword to start with???

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