Islamabad: Pakistan has said that Islamabad has always emphasised on the need for a sustained and result-oriented dialogue with India to discuss all issues, resolve outstanding disputes, including Kashmir and promote bilateral cooperation with India.”
Responding to a question that after the recent meeting between the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan in Paris, does the Pakistan Government think that bilateral dialogue will be resumed, Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Qazi Khalilullah on Thursday said, “We have to wait and see.”
Commenting on issues discussed between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in Paris, Khalilullah said Prime Minister Sharif himself has spoken to the media on a couple of occasions about the unscheduled meeting in Paris with Prime Minister Modi. “It has already been carried by the media. I would not add anything to that,” he added.
Answering a question with regard to the reported visit of Minister for External Affairs, India, Sushma Swaraj to Pakistan for participation in ‘Heart of Asia’ meeting, the spokesperson said, “We are awaiting confirmation of participation from the Indian side in the Heart of Asia Conference.”
In response to a report published by The Hindu that Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit two weeks prior to the meeting in Paris between Prime Minister Sharif and Prime Minister Modi, Khalilullah said he would not comment on the Indian media reports.
“The brief unscheduled meeting between the two Prime Ministers in Paris was air by the media as it was taking place. The Indian Ministry for External Affairs has also given its views about the nature of the meeting. However, I am not aware of the meeting of our High Commissioner in New Delhi (with Doval). However, in general, meeting between a diplomat, especially Head of Mission, and a dignitary of the host country is not an extraordinary event.”
When asked how will the Heart of Asia Conference contribute to stabilising Afghanistan when it has been noted that the previous sessions of the conference have not been useful, he said the theme of the conference is “Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process: Enhanced Cooperation for Countering Security Threats and Promoting Connectivity in the Heart of Asia Region.”
“The agenda of the Conference is aimed at cementing regional ties through a set of Confidence Building Measures. The process is aimed at expanding coordination between Afghanistan and its neighbours and regional partners in facing common threats, including terrorism, narcotics, poverty and extremism,” he added. (ANI)