ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Foreign Office said on Thursday that Pakistan believes that peace and stability in the region is important for development; however, there is no immediate breakthrough expected on resumption of bilateral talks with India.
In her weekly media briefing in Islamabad on Thursday, the Foreign Office spokesperson Tasneem Aslam said that Pakistan acted in good faith and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif accepted the invitation extended by his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to attend his oath taking ceremony.
The Foreign Office spokesperson said that India unilaterally cancelled scheduled foreign secretaries level talks without any valid reason.
“Onus is now on India to take initiative to resume composite dialogue between the two countries,” the spokesperson said.
Pakistan, Afghanistan ties broadening, deepening
The spokesperson said that relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan is broadening and deepening after the installation of the new government in Afghanistan.
“Pakistan wants stability, peace and prosperity in Afghanistan,” she reiterated.
“Pakistan is practicing the policy of non-interference in Afghanistan and expected that everyone else will practice non-interference,” she said in reply to a question.
Tasneem Aslam said that the statements of the Afghan leadership are very encouraging saying that they will not allow Afghan territory to be used against any neighbour and will also not allow proxy war on its territory.
No schedule yet for Obama’s visit to Pakistan
The Foreign Office spokesperson said that as of yet, the US President Barrack Obama is not scheduled to visit Pakistan after his trip to India.
Obama will undertake an official visit to India in January next year to take part in India’s Republic Day celebrations.