Pakistan wants to settle all issues with India: PM

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DAVOS, Jan 29: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Saturday said Pakistan was keen to resolve all the outstanding issues with India in tandem with the question of Jammu and Kashmir.

Speaking at a breakfast meeting to the international media on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, the prime minister said the issue of Kashmir must be resolved according to the UN Security Council resolutions and reflect the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

The premier said that during his last visit to India, he had suggested many proposals to his Indian counterpart on improving the ties.

But Pakistan, he said, was still awaiting response from India on these proposals.

However, he expressed the hope that during his visit to attend the Saarc Summit in Dhaka, he would be able to secure reaction from Indian Premier Dr Manmohan Singh in this regard.

The prime minister said Islamabad had no hesitation in allowing Indian private airlines to bring their flights to Pakistan. "But we need answers to our questions before we move ahead," he added.

He said the position of India on the proposed gas pipeline project through Iran, Turkmenistan and Qatar via Pakistan was different from what it had been conveyed to Pakistan.

Answering a question, he rejected the theory of clash of civilization, but said misunderstanding about Islam had accelerated after the tragic events of 9/11.

Prime Minister Aziz said Islam is a religion of tolerance, peace and believes in inter-faith harmony.

Regarding the gas pipeline project, he said Pakistan had four options to work on and stated that it would be able by the end of this year to decide on the best possible option.

The prime minister said the media in Pakistan was free and the government had issued over 20 licenses to private media sector for the opening of electronic channels.

He said the country was entering into a new phase of economic development and growth and also had strategic role to play in the region.

The government, he said, was determined to present Pakistan as a moderate, progressive Islamic country working for the world peace in collaboration with the international community.

Prime Minister Aziz said Pakistan was expanding its ties with the neighbouring countries, including Iran, Afghanistan, China and India to ensure regional peace.

"Pakistan is an anchor of peace and stability in the region," he remarked, adding that it had no aggressive designs nor it was in arms race with anyone.

"However, we need to have credible deterrence capability to ensure our economic growth." He said Pakistan was against nuclear proliferation.

On the question of Iran's nuclear issue, the prime minister said the Europe had initiated dialogue with Iran on this issue and expressed the hope that this would be settled amicably.

TELECOM: A Norwegian cellular company, Telenor, will invest nearly $1 billion in the telecom sector of Pakistan.

This was stated by Prime Minister of Norway Kjell Magne Bondevik during his meeting with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz here on Saturday on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum.

The two leaders exchanged views on regional and international situation as well.-APP

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