Pakistan affirmed on Tuesday the Jammu and Kashmir issue will be resolved in accordance with the will of the Kashmiri people.
“Pakistan firmly believes that the final disposition of the Jammu and Kashmir issue should be in accordance with the will of the Kashmiri people, to be determined through a free and impartial plebiscite under the UN auspices, as enshrined in relevant Security Council Resolutions,” Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said in a statement.
Read: Hurriyat not needed for dialogue on Kashmir: India
Responding to Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin’s statement that there is no place for a third party in talks with Pakistan, Aslam said “Kashmiris are important stakeholders as they are the ones required to exercise their right to self-determination.”
“Pakistan has all along maintained that dialogue between Pakistan and India is important for peace, economic development and welfare of the people of South Asia.”
Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment for a dialogue with India, Aslam said, “Pakistan remains committed to a sustained, unconditional and result-oriented dialogue with India, to discuss all outstanding issue, including the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir.”
On Monday, Akbaruddin said, “The government of India prefers to speak for itself. There should be no scope for misunderstanding or misinterpretation on India’s position on role of ‘so-called’ Hurriyat.”
There are only two parties and there is no place for third party in resolution for the India-Pakistan issue. Only way forward to proceed on all outstanding issues is peaceful bilateral dialogue within framework of Shimla Agreement & Lahore Declaration,” MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin added.
Akbaruddin’s statement came on Pakistan’s national day and hours after Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit claimed the Indian government does not object to his meetings with Hurriyat leaders.
“I don’t think the government of India is objecting to our meeting with Hurriyat leaders,” Abdul Basit said.
Read: Don’t think Indian govt objects to us meeting Hurriyat leaders: Abdul Basit
Down playing his meetings with Hurriyat leaders which have earlier been the cause for India cancelling foreign secretary-level talks, Basit said, “Don’t try to make an issue out of non-issue.”
