ISLAMABAD: Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on Monday said that ultimate resolution to all outstanding issues between India and Pakistan was in resumption of the composite dialogue.
Talking to a private TV channel, he said that expecting any breakthrough in Pakistan-India frosty ties in the current situation was a remote possibility. He said that whipping up an anti-Pakistan rhetoric by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi suited him ahead of elections in February next year.
To a query regarding opening of any window for meeting of the national security advisers of the two countries in the near future, Sartaj said that whenever it happened, the foreign secretaries would also feature in the talks, ranging over all the issues, including the core issue of Kashmir.
For the time being, Pakistan desired to lower the tensions and did not let things heat up further, and this dialogue-driven initiative of Pakistan had earned highest accolades from the world leaders, he added.
He also welcomed Iran’s offer of mediation between Pakistan and India over the Kashmir issue.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had already made such an offer, but India did not want to address the lingering issue and always declared it a bilateral issue, he said.
The adviser said after the July 8, with the martyrdom of Wani, an intifada-like campaign was launched by Kashmiris against the Indian oppressive rule, which baffled the Modi government.
He lamented the inhuman use of force by the Indian occupation forces against the Kashmiri people in Indian-held Kashmir.
He reiterated that Pakistan would continue to highlight Kashmiris’ plight at the world fora by extending moral, political and diplomatic support to their just cause.
To a question related to permission of land trade route to India linking Afghanistan, he said that under such a scenario, it was not possible to give concession to India.
He categorically stated that India had already suspended the connectivity frameworks.
About the Heart of Asia conference held in India, the adviser said that India gave a very negative message to the world with its repeated flimsy Pakistan-bashing.
With Afghanistan, it targeted Pakistan and tried to create gab between the Pak-Afghan ties, he said, adding that Pakistan would not let it happen, as it enjoyed multifaceted ties with Afghanistan spanning over decades.
To a query, Sartaj Aziz said he was surprised at Afghan President Ghani’s statement during the conference, as prior to it, they had held a very constructive meeting.
He noted that such a reaction indicated an unrealistic approach by the Afghan leadership, as it was confronted with very serious and complex issue of unrest and insurgency on its soil.
It might be the cause of frustration and failure on part of the Afghan leadership, which was instigated by India, he opined.
However, he clearly ruled out any serious crises in Pak-Afghan ties, and expressed his optimism that soon there would be interaction at the highest levels.
The adviser said that during the conference, Pakistan’s role for regional peace and prosperity was endorsed by China and Russia. They had noted that Pakistan’s role was indispensable in bringing stability to the region, he said.
Sartaj said that terrorism was on the rise across the globe, but Pakistan during the last three years had made great strides in curbing the menace.
Pakistan’s policy was very clear in that regard, and it had given priority to the fight against terrorism, he said, and added that the country was moving in the right direction under the National Action Plan.
Sartaj said that Pakistan’s growing relations with Russia had also worried India, adding that Pakistan was forging stronger ties with all major world powers.
To another question, he said that in recent times there was an emergence of nationalistic agenda due to which the world had shifted it focus on South-South Cooperation in which the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor held massive prospects for regional cooperation, connectivity and prosperity.
