ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Pakistan has decided to invite India for a dialogue on Jammu and Kashmir dispute, according to the prime minister’s advisor on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz.
In a press briefing in Islamabad on Friday in which the advisor apprised about the outcome of the Envoys Conference held on August 1-3, 2016 in the Federal Capital, he said that as per recommendation put forward by the Conference, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry would formally be writing to his Indian Counterpart for a dialogue on Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
While briefing the media, the advisor said that Envoys Conference had deliberated for three days on major foreign policy challenges of Pakistan and to make recommendations which were then presented to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on August 3.
Sartaj Aziz said that the Envoys held in-depth discussions on the global and regional issues and agreed that the key elements of the foreign policy of Pakistan were pointing in the correct direction. The broad framework of our foreign policy included the following:
- Peace for Development
- Building a “peaceful neighborhood”
- Regional connectivity
- “Trade, not aid” – Economic Diplomacy
- Promoting the potential and welfare of Pakistani Diaspora
- Enhancing Pakista’s image abroad
The advisor told that the Envoys noted that in the face of phenomenal changes on the global and regional scene, new alignments were taking shape.
“Pakistan and China’s collaboration on the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and our reach out to Central Asian countries and connectivity to Eurasian landmass were opening new vistas of connectivity, economic opportunities and prosperity,” he said according to Foreign Office statement issued on Friday.
The advisor said that while our relations with China are time-tested, we would also like to maintain cordial relations with the United States. “We have stayed engaged with the US and are working on to build convergences and addressing divergences.”
Talking about India, the advisor said that the Envoys Conference noted that India’s policy of not engaging in a comprehensive dialogue with Pakistan was not conducive for peace in South Asia.
The Conference spent considerable time on the grim situation in the Indian Occupied Kashmir and Indian brutality after July 8, Sartaj Aziz said adding that the Conference emphasized the indigenous character of the movement in Kashmir and condemned the atrocities being committed by the Indian forces on unarmed and innocent Kashmiris.
“Pakistan, it (Conference) has emphasized, continue to extend full diplomatic, political and moral support to the Kashmiris movement for self-determination,” he told.
Sartaj Aziz said that the Conference discussed a number of diplomatic initiatives being taken and in this regard, the foreign secretary would formally ask his Indian Counterpart for talks on Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
The Envoys Conference also noted that Pakistan has made remarkable progress in fighting terrorism which has received worldwide recognition, the advisor said but added that according to the Envoys, certain countries seem to be creating a negative narrative which will be deterred, rejected and countered.
The Conference noted that there was full consensus in Pakistan that the peace in Afghanistan is in our national interest.
“We should, therefore, continue to work for peace in Afghanistan, effective border management and continued efforts for peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan,” Sartaj Aziz said.
The advisor said that it was agreed in the Conference that engagement with Afghanistan would be intensified at all level to address each other concern and to build on points of convergence.
The advisor on foreign affairs said that detailed guidelines are now being prepared to implement the recommendations emerging from the Envoys Conference.
