War not an option, says Pakistan's envoy to US

Washington, Oct 10: War is not an option for India and Pakistan, Islamabads envoy to the US says, while two visiting Pakistani MPs have called for talks between the two countries.

"Going to war is not an option at all. Both countries need economic development and to focus on the welfare of their people," the Dawn on Monday quoted Pakistani amba­ssador Jalil Abbas Jilani as saying.

MPs Mushahid Hussain Syed and Shezra Mansab Ali Kharal, visiting the US to present Pakistan's views on the Kashmir dispute, disregarded with the view New Delhi and Islamabad were moving towards yet another war.

"There will be no war," Hussain said. "Both sides are fully aware of the consequences of a war between two nuclear-armed nations."

Kharal added: "Talks are important, not just for Pakistan and India but also for the people of Kashmir. They too deserve to live in peace and with dignity."

The Dawn quoted the lawmakers as saying that Pakistan and India had already agreed to reduce tensions after their national security advisers spoke over phone last week.

The ambassador urged the US and other major world powers to encourage India to engage with Pakistan for a peaceful resolution of all disputes, including the core issue of Kashmir.

Earlier, at a meeting with Pakistani journalists, Hussain and Kharal said the Americans had maintained "very high-level" contacts with the Indian and Pakistani governments.

"We are convinced that the (Narendra) Modi government will finally resume bilateral talks with Pakistan," said Hussain.

India-Pakistan ties tensed after terrorists from Pakistan killed 19 Indian soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir last month. The Indian Army later carried out surgical strikes on terrorist positions in Pakistani territory.

Kharal warned India not "to stir troubles in Balochistan as India too has faultlines".

She said India had more than 17 separatist movements and if Pakistan wanted, it could have exploited those situations.

"But we did not because we regard those as India's internal affairs. India should also stop interfering in our internal affairs."

IANS