Kashmir dispute should be resolved in ‘just and fair’ manner: Abdul Basit

Published November 17, 2014
Pakistan High Commisioner Abdul Basit addressing a press conference. -AFP/File
Pakistan High Commisioner Abdul Basit addressing a press conference. -AFP/File

Pakistan High Commissioner to India, Abdul Basit said the Kashmir dispute should be resolved in a ‘just and fair’ manner through dialogue, The Hindu website reported.

Basit made the remarks on Sunday while speaking to the media at Hyderabad Press Club.

He said that relations between Pakistan and India should not be held hostage due to Kashmir.

“India-Pakistan relations are very important and also very complex at the same time,” he said.

He regretted cancellation of talks between the two countries and expressed hope that efforts to ‘break the ice’ would yield results.

Read more: India calls off foreign secretary level talks with Pakistan

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

The high commissioner said he wanted Pakistan and India to come together to tackle serious issues like terrorism, human trafficking, organised crime, and climate change.

India called off foreign secretary-level bilateral talks with Pakistan in August following criticism of Abdul Basit’s meeting with Hurriyat leader Shabir Shah.

The two countries had scheduled talks between their foreign secretaries for August 25.

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