ISLAMABAD: Pakis­tan’s High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit emphasised on Thursday that peace was in the interest of both India and Pakistan and said the neighbours could achieve a lasting peace through “meaningful dialogue”.

Speaking at a flag-hoisting ceremony held in New Delhi to mark the 77th Pakistan Day, Mr Basit said Pakistan was keen to settle all outstanding issues with India, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, through dialogue.

He elaborated on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s vision for peace in the region. However, he stressed that Pakistan’s desire for peace in the region should not be misconstrued as its weakness.

“Our position on bilateral issues is rooted in principles and international law,” he said, according to a message received here from the Indian capital.

Earlier, Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah read out messages from President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Sharif.—APP

Our Correspondent in New Delhi adds: The Indian government responded to Mr Basit’s remarks by demanding Pakistan’s vacation from Gilgit-Baltistan.

“The only issue of dispute between India and Pakistan as far as Jammu and Kashmir is concerned is the ‘illegal occupation’ of PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan by Pakistan,” a minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office said.

Reports said that Jitendra Singh’s “sharp remarks” came in response to Mr Basit favouring resolution of the Kashmir dispute as per the “aspirations of Kashmiris”.

Talking to reporters outside parliament, Mr Singh was quoted as saying: “Today if there is any issue between India and Pakistan on J&K, it is only the ‘illegal occupation by Pakistan’, whether it is Pakistan-occupied Kash­mir (PoK) or Gilgit-Baltistan.”

The Ministry of External Affairs too expressed its objection to the remarks that were interestingly missing from the High Commission’s official press release. Aspirations of people “can be suppressed but not quelled. And, I hope the struggle of the Kashmiris will, God willing, prove successful (‘jo jaddo jehad Kashmiri kar rahen hayn, wo inshallah kamyab ho’),” Indian reports quoted him as saying.

The ministry reportedly said the “remarks are not in keeping with diplomatic niceties and are tantamount to interference in our internal affairs”.

“Pakistan will be well-advised to address challenge of terror emanating from that country, which has adversely affected peace in region,” the ministry added.

Published in Dawn, March 24th, 2017