ISLAMABAD, June 11: Federal Information and Media Development Minister Nisar A. Memon on Tuesday said that India needs to do more to reduce tension and move forward for dialogue to resolve all outstanding issues, including Kashmir.

Speaking to Arab diplomats at the residence of Qatar’s ambassador about the prevailing tension in the subcontinent, he said international mediation efforts were successful in convincing India that Pakistan was not allowing use of its soil for terrorism.

Referring to the Indian decision to lift ban on overflights, the minister said India was responding with very small gestures in the desired direction.

Nisar Memon gave a detailed account of happenings since attack on the Indian parliament and said Pakistan had all along condemned the terrorist acts.

He referred to the mediation efforts by the United States, Russia, Britain and other friendly countries, behind the scene, to reduce the tension.

He said Pakistan’s policy had been for peace but it was ready to defend itself against any aggression.

He said the Almaty declaration also provides for the right of self-determination to the people who are under occupation, like Kashmiris and Palestinians.

The minister said Pakistan would continue to provide diplomatic, moral and political support to the just cause of the Kashmiris.

Nisar Memon said state terrorism was being carried out in occupied Kashmir, which, he said, was evident from the killing of 80,000 Kashmiris.

He referred to the assassination of All Parties Hirriyat Conference leader Abdul Ghani Lone and arrest of Syed Ali Shah Geelani and said those actions were aimed at suppressing the indigenous freedom struggle and rig the forthcoming elections in occupied Kashmir.

He said Pakistan itself had been the victim of terrorism over the past 20 years and drew the attention of the diplomats to the bombing at Egyptian embassy here, attack on a church and killing of French nationals in Karachi.

The information minister said Pakistan’s stand not to allow its territory to be used by anybody for terrorist activities against any other country had been well accepted by the international community.

Palestinian Ambassador Ahmed Abdul Razzaq, speaking on behalf of the Arab diplomats, said the Arab countries supported Pakistan and thanked Pakistan for its support to the Palestinian and Arab causes.

The Ambassadors and diplomats from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait, Egypt, Algeria, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Libya, Lebanon, Palestine, Oman, Morocco, Sudan, Yemen and Somalia were present.—APP