New Indian proposals received, says FO: Move welcomed as positive
By Qudssia Akhlaque
ISLAMABAD, May 26: The Foreign Office has welcomed Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s reassurance about his commitment to settle all bilateral issues, including the Kashmir dispute, and confirmed that it had recently received some proposals from New Delhi in this context.
“We have recently received suggestions from the Indian side and we would be responding to them so as to move the peace process forward and help progress towards a settlement of the dispute,” the Foreign Office said on Friday.
It said: “We welcome the reiteration of the commitment by the prime minister of India, in Srinagar on May 25, to resolve all outstanding issues with Pakistan, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
“We have always emphasised the need for moving beyond the confidence-building measures and to have focused discussions for resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute and also involving the Kashmiri leadership with the peace process.”
It mentioned that President Pervez Musharraf had offered concrete ideas in this regard.
Pointing to ‘several positive elements’ in the Indian premier’s speech, particularly the need to improve human rights situation in the Indian-occupied Kashmir, the Foreign Office said: “We also agree that there should be greater interaction between people across the Line of Control.”
“Both sides should work together to facilitate interaction, especially among the divided Kashmiri families,” it said.
The Foreign Office termed the commencement of the Muzaffarabad-Srinagar truck service and the bus services between Muzaffarabad and Srinagar and Rawalakot and Poonch a positive development.
The Foreign Office said Pakistan was committed to resolving all outstanding issues with India.
It added: “The statement by the prime minister of India last March had given rise to some optimism, but it did not materialise at the Siachen talks.”
