Pakistan ready to demonstrate flexibility in talks with India

By Staff
|
Google Oneindia News

Islamabad, Mar 17 (UNI) Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said Pakistan was ready to demonstrate flexibility to resolve the longstanding Jammu and Kashmir issue, if other stakeholders reciprocated.

''The ongoing peace process has generated goodwill and raised the level of expectation of the people on all sides,'' The Dawn newspaper quoted him as saying at the international Kashmir conference in Islamabad.

He maintained that this provided the two countries with a historic opportunity to transition from conflict management to conflict resolution by settling the six decades old Jammu and Kashmir issue.

''We must seize the moment and create a bright future for our coming generations.'' With the peace process reaching its logical culmination, Jammu and Kashmir will become a symbol of peace, tranquillity and fraternity in South Asia, the Prime Minister said.

He added that this would unleash the vast potential of the two countries and usher in a new era of peace and prosperity, not just for Pakistan and India but for the whole of South Asia.

He observed that the peace process would see ups and downs and there would also be attempts to derail the process.

''However, we must all remain steadfast and committed to our objective of sustainable peace in South Asia.'' The Kashmir dispute had cast a long and dark shadow over South Asia for nearly sixty years, he said, adding that it was the core issue between India and Pakistan and its just resolution could change the destiny of over a billion people in the region.

''Since the two countries are also nuclear weapon states, Kashmir is considered as a challenging place in the world and a settlement of the dispute will contribute to international peace and security.

Mr Aziz said over the last six decades, the people of Kashmir had been denied their inalienable right to self-determination as recognised by the international community in several UN Security Council resolutions.

He said Pakistan had entered into a dialogue process with India with a firm commitment and a sincere hope that it would result in a just and lasting solution of this issue in accordance with the wishes of the people of Kashmir.

UNI

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