Advertisement

Help
You are here: Rediff Home » India » News » PTI
Search:  Rediff.com The Web
Advertisement
  Discuss this Article   |      Email this Article   |      Print this Article

Pak firm on its 'historic stand' on Kashmir
Related Articles
Coverage: India-Pakistan Peace Process

'Pakistan army committed to Kashmir issue'

US charts the road to peace in J&K

'Mood is changing in Pakistan' -- Kuldip Nayar

'Time has run out for India-Pak on J&K issue' -- Mirwaiz Umer Farooq

Ties with India best in 60 years: Pak

Don't misread Musharraf's J&K proposal: Pak

I can never let down Kashmiris: Musharraf

Musharraf for 'middle path' on Kashmir issue

Get news updates:What's this?
Advertisement
April 05, 2008 22:33 IST

Pakistan's new government on Saturday made it clear that there is no change in the country's position on Kashmir and it wants the issue to be resolved in accordance with its 'historic stand'.

The 'just solution of the Kashmir issue should be in line with the wishes of the people of Kashmir and Pakistan,' Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said.

Pakistan has been insisting on third party mediation on the Kashmir issue, a demand outrightly rejected by India which wants it to be dealt bilaterally. But chairman of the Pakistan People's Party that leads the ruling coalition had said recently that the ties between the two countries should not be held hostage to the Kashmir issue, which should be left for future generations to resolve.

The country's Kashmir policy was formulated after due consideration and it is the government's desire to resolve this longstanding issue in accordance with 'our historic stand', the minister added.

Qureshi said External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee has been invited to Pakistan and the dates for his visit are being determined.

Ahead of Mukherjee's trip, Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon will also visit Pakistan to review the fourth round of the composite dialogue.

The two sides concluded talks on respective eight issues under the fourth round of composite dialogue in August last year. However, the Foreign Secretary-level talks to wrap up the fourth round of talks and launch the fifth round could not take place due to political turmoil in Pakistan.

The composite dialogue process with India should be resumed at the earliest as it is in the interest of both countries to resolve their problems through negotiations, Qureshi said.

"Keeping in view these conclusions (made during the fourth round), we will lay the basis for the next round of talks," Qureshi told media persons in Karachi during a visit to the mausoleum of Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan.

The country's Kashmir policy was formulated after due consideration and it is the government's desire to resolve this longstanding issue in accordance with 'our historic stand', he said.

The 'just solution of the Kashmir issue should be in line with the wishes of the people of Kashmir and Pakistan', he said.

Qureshi pointed out that as soon as the new government was formed in Islamabad, Mukherjee had contacted him on telephone and expressed good wishes.

Mukherjee also expressed the desire that talks between the two countries, which were stalled for some time due to 'some reasons should be resumed,' he said.

"We are neighbours and we should live with the spirit of accommodation and in an amicable way. This is in the interest of our two countries," Qureshi remarked, adding, "If we bring about improvements in our ties, this will benefit the people of our two countries."


© Copyright 2008 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.
 Email this Article      Print this Article

© 2008 Rediff.com India Limited. All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer | Feedback