Pakistan, India renew desire for peace
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.
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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”.