International Shia News Agency

Kashmir dispute must be resolved as per aspirations of Kashmiri people: FO

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association)

Pakistan and India will have to resume composite dialogues sooner or later for the sake of sustainable peace in the region, Foreign Office spokesperson Tasneem Aslam said on Thursday, adding that consultation with Indian-held Kashmiri leadership is routine.

“Terming bilateral negotiations between Pakistan and India on Kashmir as undermining UN Security Council’s resolutions, is legally and political incorrect,” Aslam said, referring to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s criticism of his counterpart Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s speech at the UN General Assembly.

“The actual legal position on Kashmir is that the dispute must be resolved as per the aspirations of Kashmiri people through plebiscite.”

The spokesperson added that the Simla Agreement does not make UN resolutions ineffective.

Regarding the transition in power in Afghanistan’s presidency, the spokesperson said Pakistan welcomes the political transition in Afghanistan and also welcomes the Bilateral Security Agreement between Afghanistan and United States.

“Pakistan supports every initiative aimed at bringing stability in our western neighbour because sustainable peace is in our own interest.”

“Being an independent country, Afghanistan can sign any agreement with any country,” she added.

Reiterating Pakistan’s continued commitment to fight militants, Aslam said elimination of terrorism is a common responsibility of all countries in the region.

“The process of declaring any organisation as a terrorist outfit is enshrined in UN charter,” the spokesperson said, adding that the unilateral decision of the United States declaring three Pakistanis as terrorists does not apply on Pakistan.

Further, responding to a question regarding the issue of polio, Aslam said Pakistan is committed to eradication of the virus.

“The government is taking every possible step in this regard,” she said regretful that new polio cases have surfaced.

Welcoming the release of Pakistani journalist Faizullah Khan from Afghanistan, Aslam thanked the people involved in the efforts for his release.

“Pakistan through its mission in Afghanistan extended all possible support to Faizullah including provision of legal counsel,” she reiterated.

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