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Only comprehensive dialogue can bridge Indo-Pak trust gap
* Aziz says meeting of two foreign secretaries failed to make breakthrough but has paved way for next meeting
ISLAMABAD: Adviser to Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said on Sunday that all the issues between India and Pakistan need a comprehensive dialogue process, as there is a lack of trust between the two countries.
He said Pakistan’s foreign secretary will visit India when his counterpart invites him for the resumption of dialogue process between the two countries. Talking to newsmen here, he said although the recent visit of Indian Secretary for External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishnakar was in the context of SAARC countries tour, but the two foreign secretaries met and discussed all the issues, including the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir. Aziz said despite no breakthrough in this meeting of the foreign secretaries, there was headway for the next meeting of the two foreign secretaries.
The adviser said Pakistan wants to resolve all the issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, Siachin, Sir Creek and other disputes with India through dialogue process. Sartaj Aziz said in 1999 during the visit of Indian prime minister, there was an important development in the bilateral relations between Pakistan and India, but later due to the Kargil issue, the relations were disturbed again. He said there is a long way to be travelled between India and Pakistan to resolve all the issues but it need comprehensive dialogue process between the two countries as there is lack of trust between the two countries.
Replying to a question, the adviser said SAARC summit 2016 will be hosted by Pakistan and all the leaders of the SAARC countries will be invited to attend the summit. He expressed the hope that all the SAARC leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the next 2016 SAARC summit being hosted by Pakistan. Answering a question about the relations between civilian government and military establishment, Sartaj Aziz said both are on the same page and cooperating each other on all the issues especially in this war against terrorism.
He said decisions are being taken on all the important issues with the cooperation between civil and military establishment. Regarding the visit of Chinese president to Pakistan, the adviser to the prime minister said dates are being finalised for the visit of Chinese president to Pakistan in the near future. He, however, said it is not possible on March 23. Answering another question, the adviser said President Mamoon Hussain will undertake an official visit to Azerbaijan to promote economic, security, cultural and people to people ties.
He said Pakistan wants investment from Azerbaijan in various fields especially in energy sector and expressed the hope that visit of President will promote trade and economic ties. Replying to another question, the adviser said there has been progress on the reconciliation process between Afghan Taliban and Afghan government, adding that Pakistan is ready to help and facilities this Afghan-led and Afghan-owned reconciliation process.
Sartaj Aziz avoided explanation to the questions regarding initial contacts between the Afghan Taliban and the government. “Let us see what happen next and commenting over the issue on this stage is too earlier,” he said. Aziz said that Pakistan would continue its support for Afghan reconciliation process. “Pakistan and Afghanistan are brotherly country and they would not allow anyone to use its soil against each other,” he said. Over Pak-India talks, he said that Pakistan wishes for talks on all issues and disputes, adding that talks between the foreign secretaries of the two countries were positive. To a question he said that Pakistan wanted a peaceful neighbourhood.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk