ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The federal minister for defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said that Pakistan and India can resolve their disputes through dialogue and should adopt the path of negotiations.
“Pakistan desires peace with India but its desire should not be taken as its weakness,” the defence minister told media after addressing a function at the Institute of Strategic Studies in Islamabad on Tuesday.
The defence minister said that soon after taken over the government, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed his desire for peace with India. However, he regretted that for the last few months, this desire has been misconceived by the other side.
The two neighboring countries armed with nuclear weapons have recently leveled allegations against each other of cross border firing and involvement of militant activities in their rival country.
“The process of unprovoked firing by Indian forces is not good for peace,” the defence minister.
The dialogue process between the two countries is also facing a deadlock since the cancellation of foreign secretary level talks by the Indian government earlier this year.
The two countries have also expressed the desire on many occasions to have peaceful and friendly bilateral relations as well as resumption of talks; however, conditions put by both sides prior to coming on a negotiating table are causing a delay.
The minister further said that peace and stability in Afghanistan is imperative for peace in the region. “No country should interfere in the internal affairs of Afghanistan for peace in that country,” he said.
Khawaja Asif reiterated that Pakistan will not interfere in the internal affairs of Afghanistan.
