ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The prime minister’s adviser on national security and foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz said on Tuesday that Pakistan does not want tension on the border with India but desires relations with New Delhi on the basis of mutual respect and dignity. Â
The relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors are currently under immense strain as both the countries are leveling allegations against each other of cross border firing. In addition, the dialogue process between the two countries is also facing a deadlock.
Talking to the media representatives in Islamabad on Tuesday, the adviser said that India had suspended the foreign secretary level talks and now onus lies with it to take the initiative for resumption of dialogue with Pakistan.
The Indian government had called off the foreign secretary level talks between the two countries scheduled to be held on August 25 this year to carry forward the dialogue process, citing a meeting between the Pakistani high commissioner to India Abdul Basit and Kashmiri separatist leaders as the reason.
The advisor regretted that New Delhi is linking Kashmir dispute with terrorism to divert attention from the real issue.
Sartaj Aziz said that Kashmiris are fighting for their right self-determination while Pakistan is only politically supporting them to raise this issue at the international level. For this purpose, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif raised the Kashmir dispute at the UN General Assembly session to attract the international attention.
The premier’s adviser expressed the confidence that the international community will pay attention towards resolution of this outstanding issue including human rights violations there.
The adviser said that the dialogue process has not moved forward with India since the installation of Narendra Modi’s government. He said that the resumption of dialogue will help build confidence between the two sides.
