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| October 26, 2003 | Sunday | Sha’aban 29, 1424 |
New Delhi’s move lacks sincerity, says FO
ISLAMABAD, Oct 25: Foreign office spokesman Masood Khan said “perhaps the Indians are serious in making the proposals, but sincerity is not visible”.
In a PTV talk show, he said solution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute was a must for normalization of relations between the two countries.
“We are not playing chess. Deciding the destiny of the Kashmiri people is a serious matter,” he added.
Mr Khan said exclusion of talks on the main Kashmir dispute rendered the Indian package of “recycled” old proposals “disingenuous”.
“Pakistan never wanted confrontation with India. We want good relations and cooperation. But that demands a negotiated solution to the Kashmir dispute,” he said.
“Confidence-building measures can improve the atmosphere but what matters really is the start of a composite dialogue,” he further said.
He made it clear that frequent shelling across the LoC had to be stopped before moving the Indian proposal about starting a bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad.
“The proposal looks good on the surface but the frequent shelling across the ceasefire line had to be stopped first,” he stressed.
Mr Khan said Pakistan would respond in “good faith” to the 12 proposals made by India to improve relations between them though they contained nothing new or substantial. “We want to respond in good faith ... to make a new beginning. But it cannot be in parts,” he added.—PPI
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