Muzaffarabad (Pakistan): Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Friday said the country wants peace in the region and does not want confrontation with India, even as he reiterated that the Kashmir issue should “be resolved” through dialogue.
“It is not possible that one part of the region should be prosperous and the other part in trouble. Peaceful solution of Kashmir is indispensable,” Sharif said at a joint sitting of the legislature of the Pakistani side of Jammu and Kashmir on Kashmir Day.
“We want peace in the region. We are prepared to do each and every thing to this effect. We don’t want confrontation with India. Kashmir issue (should) be resolved through talks,” Sharif said.
The Kashmir issue is a test for current leadership of India, Pakistan and people of both the countries cannot prosper and progress until the lingering issue is resolved, the Prime Minister said.
“Difference of opinion between two countries is not unheard of,” Sharif said, referring to Pakistan’s differences with India over Kashmir. “What is unusual is that for six-seven decades, we have not been able to get rid of these differences,” he told the joint session.
“Unless we sit together and talk about these issues, they won’t be resolved,” Sharif said, expressing hope that the Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue between Pakistan and India would see progress in days to come.
Sharif said Pakistan has assured Indian leadership of cooperation on every issue, including terrorism. “Pakistan is most affected by terrorism. Who wants eradication of terrorism more than Pakistan?” IANS
