Aziz for peace, coop with neighbours including India

Islamabad, Aug 21: Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz today said his country was keen to promote peace and cooperation with its neighbours including India by resolving all outstanding issues.

''For this purpose, we are engaged in a composite dialogue process with India to resolve all outstanding issues with it and we believe that without the resolution of core issue of Kashmir, lasting peace in the region is not possible,'' Mr Aziz said during the inaugural ceremony of the 7th National Security Workshop at National Defence College here.

He said Pakistan was fully committed for promoting peace and stability in the region but it firmly believed that a strong defence is indispensable to its territorial integrity, stability and progress.

About Afghanistan, Mr Aziz said Islamabad enjoyed historical, cultural and religious ties with Afghanistan and was committed to promoting peace and security, which was also in the strategic interest of the country.

Both Kabul and New Delhi often complained of half-hearted efforts by Islamabad to curb terrorism. India accuses Pakistan of abetting Kashmir-based militants while Afghanistan alleges that Islamabad is not doing enough to eliminate cross border infiltration, he added.

The Prime Minister said Pakistan, however, denies allegations by both the countries and says its contribution to curb the menace was well known to everyone being the frontline state in the ongoing war against terror.

''Terrorism and extremism are posing a serious threat to the progress and stability of the country and Pakistan is fighting terror in its supreme national interest,'' Mr Aziz said.

He said Pakistan enjoyed very good relations with China, the US, EU, Russia and Japan, which are expanding in scope and contents.

He expressed the determination for strengthening the foundations of National Security and economic progress to protect the citizens and national interests, both home and abroad.

He said the government wants to transform Pakistan into a modern and developed Islamic state through sustainable democracy and a knowledge based economy.

UNI

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