War not a solution between India, Pakistan, issues can be resolved through talks: Pak High Commissioner Abdul Basit

File Pic

Delhi: Pak High Commissioner Abdul Basit said on Monday that war was not a solution between India and Pakistan.

He said, "Only foolish people would consider war as a solution to the problems," as per ANI.

"Five months have passed to Pathankot (attack) but the dialogue process between India and Pakistan has not resumed. We hope that the dialogue process will resume, because all our issues can be resolved through talks," Basit further added.

On the terror attack on Indian Air Force base by JeM, according to security agencies, he maintained, "We're maintaining cooperation on Pathankot, lets hope we'll be able to get to the bottom of that incident."

Basit also said that the two countries must focus on improving trade relations.

At the same time, he pointed out that Pakistan was grappling with series of challenges and was trying its best to combat them.

To be noted is the fact that two day ago, addressing a gathering on the 18th anniversary of Pakistan's first nuclear test, Pakistani nuclear scientist AQ Khan had said in Islamabad that his country had the ability to 'target' the Indian capital in five minutes.

Reacting to Khan's comments, a number of strategic affairs experts here said that India had the capability to hit entire Pakistan but nuclear weapons were not weapons of war but only meant for deterrence.

Meanwhile, last week, in an interview to The Wall Street Journal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that Indo-Pak ties could "truly scale great heights" if Pakistan removes the "self-imposed" obstacle of terrorism.

He had also asked Islamabad to play its part by putting a complete stop to any kind of support to terrorism, "whether state or non-state".

"In my view, our ties can truly scale great heights once Pakistan removes the self-imposed obstacle of terrorism in the path of our relationship. We are ready to take the first step, but the path to peace is a two-way street," PM Modi had said, in comments posted on its website on May 27.

PM Modi had added, "Pakistan's failure to take effective action in punishing the perpetrators of terror attacks limits the forward progress in our ties," as per PTI.

"I have said that the future that I wish for India is the future that I dream for my neighbours. My visit to Lahore was a clear projection of this belief," he had maintained. 

(With Agency inputs)