ISLAMABAD: Both Pakistan and India on Thursday expressed the desire to move past the tense stalemate in their bilateral relationship, but continued to be held back by the core issues of Kashmir and terrorism.

President Mamnoon Hussain in his speech at the main Pakistan Day ceremony in Islamabad — the March 23 armed forces parade — said: “Pakistan is ready to hold dialogue with India.” But at the same time he emphasised the need for resolving Kashmir issue according to the UN resolutions.

The sharp downslide in the fraught Pakistan-India ties started last July after the Kashmiris launched the latest phase of uprising in the Valley following the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani. Subsequent militant attacks in the Valley and intensified ceasefire violations along the Line of Control and Working Boundary by India further complicated the relations.

New Delhi urged to resolve Kashmir issue according to UN resolutions; China vows to boost ties

Mr Hussain termed Kashmir an “unfinished agenda of the subcontinent’s partition,” and vowed to continue moral, political and diplomatic support to the Kashmiris.

The president regretted that Delhi’s provocative actions, irresponsible attitude and consistent violation of the LoC and Working Boundary were threatening peace.

He urged the international community to fulfil its obligation to maintaining stability and sustainable peace.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended greetings to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on the occasion of Pakistan Day.

In a letter addressed to Mr Sharif, the Indian premier reiterated that maintaining friendly relations with countries in the neighbourhood, including Pakistan, was a policy priority.

But, at the same time, a source aware of the letter’s contents said, Mr Modi indicated that relations could only move forward in “a terrorism-free environment”.

In his letter, the Indian prime minister reciprocated a similar letter sent to him by his Pakistani counterpart in January this year on the occasion of Republic Day.

Indian President Parnab Mukherjee, meanwhile, in his message to President Hussain said: “India is committed to building ties with Pakistan in an environment free from terror and violence.”

Besides, Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed satisfaction over the momentum in Pak-China relations. In a message, he noted that the two countries’ joint venture, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, was moving into the stage of full implementation.

“Endeavours of jointly building China-Pakistan Community of Shared Destiny… conform to the common interests of both countries and the two peoples, and … conducive to the peace and development of the region as well as the whole world,” he underscored and expressed his readiness to take China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership to a new level.

Prime Minister Li Keqiang too expressed similar sentiments.

“The Chinese government has always viewed and developed China-Pakistan relations from a strategic and long-term perspective. China is willing to work with the Pakistani government to push forward China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership for new and continuous progress,” he said in a letter addressed to PM Sharif.

Published in Dawn, March 24th, 2017