'Talks with India incomplete without Kashmiris'

Islamabad, May 4: Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Tuesday, May 4 that the nation has always been in favor of meaningful dialgoue with India, but said that the talk would be incomplete without making Kashmiris part of it.

"We are trying to find a durable resolution of issues as well as cover the damage done to foreign policy during the previous regime. The Prime Ministers of Pakistan and India had agreed during their meeting at Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt last year that dialogue is the only way forward," he said, while informing the National Assembly or lower house of Parliament about the government"s policy on Kashmir.

Qureshi said that Pakistan was in favor of a peaceful solution to Kashmir.

"We want a just and peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue in light of the UN resolutions and according to the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. We are firm in our stance and shall continue extending moral, diplomatic and political support to the Kashmiri people for their right to self-determinatio."

"It is our principled stand on Kashmir and we shall continue our efforts for a durable and peaceful resolution of this issue," he added.

Qureshi said that talks on Kashmir will be effective only if the Kashmiris are made part of the dialogue.

"Any dialogue between India and Pakistan shall be incomplete without the participation of the Kashmiri people," he said.

"The Pakistan government is in constant touch with the Kashmiri leadership on both sides of the border as it believes that a durable solution to the issue is not possible without involving the real Kashmiri leadership," he added.

"The Kashmir issue is the cornerstone of Pakistan"s foreign policy, we cannot be oblivious to it. But we desire a peaceful resolution through dialogue. That is the only way forward," he said.

OneIndia News