No change in our stance on Kashmir issue, says Pakistan

Islamabad, March 10: Pakistan on Thursday affirmed there was no change in its stance on the Kashmir issue and stressed upon the need to address it as it was the oldest issue on the United Nations' agenda.

Foreign Office spokesman Nafees Zakaria said Kashmiris were "struggling for their right to self-determination" and Pakistan would continue to extend moral, political and diplomatic support to them till the implementation of the UN resolutions.

The Kashmir issue would be taken up whenever India and Pakistan hold talks, Zakaria told a weekly press briefing here.

The spokesman said initiatives have been taken for Confidence Building at the top leadership-level in the two countries, and added that levelling of allegations were of no help in lowering tensions between the two neighbours, reports the News International.

The remarks came days after British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said the Kashmir issue should not be a pre-condition for resumption of the India-Pakistan dialogue.

IANS