Pakistan tells India to resume Foreign Secretary-level talks
20 April 2015 6:20 AM IST
Pakistan has called on India to resume foreign secretary-level talks to resolve all outstanding issues, saying with peace the menace of poverty, illiteracy and injustice in the region can be eradicated.
"Although the Indian Foreign Secretary visited Pakistan on March 3 this year but it was 'a goodwill gesture'. The formal talks have yet to resume," Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said.
Aziz made the remarks at a seminar titled 'Muslim-Sikh Dosti Di Tarjman ?- Baisakhi (Baisakhi represents Muslim-Sikh friendship)' here at the Lahore Fort last evening.
"Pakistan believes in peace in the region and desires to initiate dialogue on all issues with India. If there will be peace, we all can eradicate the menace of poverty, illiteracy and injustice in the region," he said.
He urged India to resume the process of dialogue as agreed by the two premiers ?- Nawaz Sharif and Narendra Modi -- during their meeting last year.
Aziz expressed wonder at the "inordinate delay" by India in resuming foreign secretary-level talks.
"Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif after 2013 general elections had announced an economic and social development roadmap for the country through developing good relations with the neighbours, including India. Under this policy, Mr Sharif went to India and took part in the oath-taking ceremony of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Aziz said.
During their meeting on May 27, 2014, both premiers agreed to resume foreign secretary-level talks.
"And on August 25, subsequently India conveyed to us about sending its foreign secretary to Islamabad in this regard," he said.
Pakistan condemns arrest of separatist leaders in Kashmir
Pakistan on Sunday condemned the use of force by security forces against protestors in Kashmir and said the arrest of separatist leaders in the Valley is a matter of concern. "Pakistan is deeply concerned at the increase in systematic human rights violations in Kashmir. We condemn the brutal use of force by Indian security forces against peaceful and unarmed protesters, resulting in the killing of two Kashmiri young men," Foreign Office spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said in a statement. Several separatist leaders, including Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, have been put under house arrest by authorities in Kashmir to foil their plans of holding protests against the killing of a teenager in Budgam district.
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