PESHAWAR: Awami National Party central general secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain, while welcoming release of Indian Air Force pilot, said that two nuclear powers could not afford escalation in tensions.

In a statement issued here on Friday, he said party president Asfandyar Wali Khan had offered to play role in de-escalating tension between the two neighbours. He said that ANP believed in peace and non-violence that was why the party president had offered his services.

He said that release of IAF pilot who was captured in Kashmir after shooting down of his aircraft was a positive step and urged India to reciprocate Pakistan’s good gesture. He asked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take into consideration suggestion of 21 political parties of his country and take measures for defusing tension in the region.

He said that diplomacy and talks were the only solution to prevailing situation in the region, adding that Islamabad and New Delhi should think about Asfandyar Wali’s talks offer. He said that majority of the political parties had rejected Narendra Modi’s stance. He said that civil society in India was also against war with Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, March 2nd, 2019