Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday stressed upon the global community, particularly United States (US), to help resolve Kashmir issue for lasting peace in the region, which would benefit half of the World's population.

“I think for the regional peace, the global community has a responsibility to work on the flash issue of the region and that is resolution of Kashmir issue,” he said while speaking at the Heritage Foundation in Washington.

He was speaking on the topic 'Pakistan's Economic Reforms: Its Quest for Investment, Prospects for Development, and Social Change'. The programme was hosted by Director Asian Studies Walter Lohman.

Dar said the resolution of Kashmir issue was outstanding for decades now and informed the audience about the current situation going on in Indian occupied Kashmir for last several months.

He said the resolution of this issue would bring regional peace and the spending on defence could be utilised for social development.

On Afghanistan issue, he said peace in Afghanistan means peace in Pakistan, and expressed hope for the peaceful political solution of Afghanistan problem.

He said there was no second thought that Pakistan had been part of global efforts. Dar said any country that suffered most on account of terrorism was Pakistan.

Pakistan lost 35,000 lives including 6,000 armed forces and had 40,000 to 50,000 injured, adding it had to bear a financial and economic loss of US$110.

“This is the huge loss in any country on the globe,” he remarked and deplored that some elements having their vested interests had been pointing fingers on Pakistan, which was regrettable.