Pakistan will not allow terrorists to use its soil: Basit

Nagpur, Jun 3: Pakistan's High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit today said his country will never allow terrorists to use its soil, and advocated continuation of dialogue between the two countries.

"The Pakistan government will not allow any kind of terror activities from our soil," he said. India and Pakistan should immediately take up the bilateral dialogue further, he said, while maintaining that Kashmir is an issue for Pakistan.

He also assured that Pakistan will bring the perpetrators of the Pathankot terror attack to book. Basit was speaking at a function organised by 'Lokmat' media group here.

After the Pathankot incident, dialogue stopped but both countries showed restraint and did not react extremely, he said. Advocating encouragement for cultural exchange, he said Indian films are liked in Pakistan and India too should allow the films from across the border to be screened here.

There should be frequent flights between India and Pakistan and as in the past, Air India or private airlines can operate flights to Pakistan, the High Commissioner said.

Basit appreciated Prime Minister Narendra Modi's gesture of inviting his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif to the swearing-in ceremony in 2014, saying it was a great "visionary step" and said to accept the invite was a difficult decision for Sharif. Modi's subsequent visit to Pakistan enhanced the hope for dialogue, he said.

Though his country was an Islamic state, women did not lag behind in any sector, he said. "Our women are flying fighter aircraft, are specialist doctors and engineers," he said.

PTI