ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday said all channels are open for dialogue with India to improve the relations and resolve all outstanding issues to ensure peace and development in the region.
In his weekly briefing in Islamabad on Friday, Foreign Office spokesman Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry said Prime Ministers of the two countries are expected to meet in New York next month on the sidelines of the General Assembly session of the United Nations. The dates for the meeting between the two prime ministers are being finalised through diplomatic channels, he added.
Chaudhry hoped that tense situation at the Line of Control (LoC) would normalize.
The spokesman said Pakistan has expressed its concern on the violation of Line of Control in Kashmir and conveyed its resentment to the Indian government.
Chaudhry said in this context, Pakistan is highlighting the anticipated meeting with two prime ministers in New York as it is one such occasion where all the issues and concerns could be discussed between the two countries.
The spokesman said this type of meeting and opportunity could also be helpful in reducing the tension between the two countries adding that Pakistan needs peace through meaningful dialogue process to ensure development in the region.
Replying to a question about Pakistan’s support to change the office of Taliban for negotiations from Qatar to Turkey or Saudi Arabia, the spokesman said Pakistan has been extending its support to any Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process and would continue it in future also.
Commenting on the statement of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the spokesman said Pakistan has always clarified that its soil would not be used by any terrorist against any country.
Replying to a question, he said Afghan President Hamid Karzai will visit Pakistan in the last week of this month to discuss various bilateral issues including economic and trade, refugees, post 2014 situation in Afghanistan and the regional situation.