Pak looking to have 'normal' ties with India: Basit

New Delhi, March 23: Pakistan is looking to have "normal" ties with India on the basis of "mutual respect and interest", its envoy Abdul Basit said on Wednesday, March 23 even as he called for resolution of all outstanding issues, including the Kashmir dispute, to ensure "peace and prosperity".

Talking to reporters here, he described the proposed visit of a five-member investigation team of Pakistan to probe the Pathankot terror attack as a "positive development" and hoped they will be able to do their work "productively".

On Pakistan High Commission inviting Hurriyat Conference leaders to 76th anniversary of Pakistan Day celebrations this evening, Basit said, "They have been attending the reception for years and Pakistan did not see any issue in it."

He said, "It is also necessary to resolve all our problems, especially the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, so as to put our relations on the irreversible trajectory of peace and prosperity. Cooperative relations are also required to address many common challenges including climate change and poverty."

A five-member Pakistani Joint Investigation Team had yesterday applied for visa to come to India to carry forward the probe into the Pathankot terror attack, days after the announcement by Foreign Ministers of the two countries that it will come here on March 27. Referring to it, Basit said, "Let the team come. [Need To Resolve Kashmir Issue To Strengthen Indo-Pak Ties: Abdul Basit]

We will see. It's a positive development, I think. We hope the team would be able to do its work productively." Asked about progress towards holding Foreign Secretary-level talks between the two countries, Basit said that "no date" has been finalised yet but hoped the parleys will take place "sooner than later".

To another question on Nuclear Security Summit to be held in Washington next week, Basit said Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will attend it. He said Pakistan "being a nuclear power" has an "important" role to play and expressed the hope that international community will work together and ensure nuclear security in all its aspects and "without any discrimination".

Basit also condemned Brussels explosions and said there can't be any justification for actions of terrorists.

PTI