ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Foreign Office has said that Pakistan welcomes the Indian prime minister’s decision to send the Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar to Pakistan, and it has never hesitated to hold negotiations with India.
“Pakistan believes that the issues and disputes between Pakistan and India need to be resolved through dialogue for peace, stability and prosperity in the region,” the Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said in her weekly media briefing in Islamabad on Friday.
“We have never shied away from engaging India,” Aslam said.
The foreign office spokesperson said that foreign secretaries of Pakistan and India will hold talks to discuss all issues of common interest. However, she said that no dates for the Indian foreign secretary’s visit have been finalized yet.
Samjahuta Express probe not shared with Pakistan
In reply to a question regarding Samjahuta Express terrorist attacks in India in 2007 which left 68 people mostly Pakistanis dead, she said that despite highest level assurances by the Indian leadership, New Delhi has not shared the investigations with Pakistan.
The spokesperson urged the Indian authorities to complete the investigation and punish the culprits responsible for the incident.
“We reiterate our demand that the Government of India expeditiously conclude the investigations and punish the perpetrators,” Aslam said.
‘Drama’ of so-called ‘terror boat’ now unfolding
Taking about the boat incident in the Arabian Sea, the spokesperson said that ‘the drama of the so-called ‘terror boat’ is now unfolding.’
Tasnim Aslam said that Pakistan conducted its own investigation and the authorities confirmed that no boat from Pakistan was found missing.
The spokesperson further said that the latest Indian media reports about the boat actually confirmed our findings.
Pakistan ready to play role of facilitator for Afghan reconciliation
In reply to a question regarding reports of resumption of talks between the Afghan Taliban and the Afghan government in Qatar, Tasnim Aslam said that Pakistan is ready to play the role of a facilitator.
However, she said that the reconciliation process between Kabul and the Afghan Taliban should be owned and led by Afghanistan.
