Dire need for progress on Kashmir: Kasuri

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

Karachi, Aug 28: Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri has once again emphasised the need for progress on the Kashmir issue, saying that both Islamabad and New Delhi are yet to arrive at a final solution in this regard.

“There is a dire need for progress on Kashmir. Back-channel contacts have been increased, but no final solution has been proposed so far," Kasuri told reporters after reviewing the country"s foreign policy of the previous five years.

Kasuri admitted that progress on the core issues of Kashmir, Siachen and Sir Creek had not been up to Pakistan"s expectations, and added that as soon as any final solution is proposed, it would be presented in Parliament for debate and approval.

“I want to make it clear that Pakistan will not accept any solution against the aspirations of Kashmiris," the Daily Times quoted him, as saying.

However, he said that despite various hurdles, there was “forward movement" in the bilateral relations between India and Pakistan. He said that direct trade between the two countries had increased from 220 million dollars five years ago to 1.6 billion dollars.

He further said that both governments had set a trade target of 10-billion-dollar for the next two years.

On Pakistan"s nuclear programme, he reiterated that Islamabad would maintain “nuclear parity" in South Asia at all costs, and no external pressure would be entertained in this regard.

“I want to make it clear that we will continue our nuclear programme, which is essential for meeting our energy requirements," said Kasuri.

Commenting on Pakistan"s relations with Afghanistan, he said their ties had improved during the last few years, but admitted that there is “cross-border movement from our side."

Pakistani security forces are trying their best to stop the cross border movement, he said, adding, “However, the actual problem lies within Afghanistan."

Kasuri brushed aside impressions that Pakistan was being dictated to by the US by saying that this is “devoid of truth."

“I have facts and figures to prove my point. We have not followed the US line on several issues. We didn"t support the US resolution on Iraq in the Security Council. We refused to send our troops to Iraq. And, we refused to support the US on Iran"s nuclear issue," he added.

ANI >

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