Islamabad: Pakistan has always desired
purposeful dialogue with India to resolve outstanding
problems, including the core issue of Kashmir, Foreign
Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Tuesday.
Briefing the National Assembly or lower house of
Parliament about the government`s policy on Kashmir Policy,
Qureshi said, "We are trying to find a durable resolution of
issues as well as cover the damage done to foreign policy
during the previous regime.”
“The Prime Ministers of Pakistan and India had agreed
during their meeting at Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt last year
that dialogue is the only way forward," he said.
Referring to Pakistan`s policy on Kashmir, he said,
"We want a just and peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue
in light of the UN resolutions and according to the
aspirations of the Kashmiri people.”
“We are firm in our stance and shall continue extending
moral, diplomatic and political support to the Kashmiri people
for their right to self- determination.”
“It is our principled stand on Kashmir and we shall
continue our efforts for a durable and peaceful resolution of
this issue," Qureshi added.
He made it clear that no solution to the Kashmir issue
will be durable if the Kashmiris are not made part of it.
"Any dialogue between India and Pakistan shall be
incomplete without the participation of the Kashmiri people,"
he said.
The Pakistan government is in constant touch with the
Kashmiri leadership on both sides of the border as it believes
that a durable solution to the issue is not possible without
involving the real Kashmiri leadership, he added.
"The Kashmir issue is the cornerstone of Pakistan`s
foreign policy, Qureshi said. We cannot be oblivious to it.
But we desire a peaceful resolution through dialogue. That is
the only way forward," he said.
After the Mumbai attacks of November 2008, the
composite dialogue process was suspended.
Prior to that, Qureshi said he took up the Kashmir
issue with India in June 2008.
PTI
