ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister’s Advisor of Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said on Monday that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) took a unanimous formal decision to admit Pakistan into the Organization.
He added that The process has been launched and after formalities are completed like ratification of SCO documents, Pakistan will become a full fledged member of the SCO.
The statement says that Prime Minister’s meeting with Mr. Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India came about in the wake of growing international support for Pakistan’s foreign policy stance.
The meeting, which was held at the request of the Indian side, was cordial.
Prime Minister Modi shared the over-arching vision of our Prime Minister that peaceful and good neighborly relations between Pakistan and India are imperative to create the necessary space in which both countries should focus on the economic welfare of their peoples. The 10 July meeting served to achieve one major objective, i.e. reduce tensions and create environment for meaningful talks on all issues of importance to both countries.
The 10 July meeting with the Prime Minister of India was not the formal start of any dialogue process but it served an important purpose to achieve an understanding that both neighbors must reduce tensions and hostility in order to constructively engage in a structured dialogue on all issues of bilateral and regional interest, including the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir.
The statement issued clearly recognizes that “India and Pakistan have a collective responsibility to ensure peace and promote development. To do so, they are prepared to discuss all outstanding issues”. And we all know which are those outstanding issues. Kashmir of course tops the list of outstanding issues, but there are also other important issues like Siachen, Sir Creek, Interference and Water.
Kashmiris have suffered for three generations now. Their right to self determine their destiny has not been granted.
Pakistan has stood by the Kashmiris in their legitimate struggle.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif affirmed our principled position in clear and unequivocal terms during his annual speech at the UN General Assembly. We would continue to extend political, moral, and diplomatic support to our Kashmiri brethren.
Both leaders agreed that the existing mechanism of regular meetings between DG Rangers, DG BSFs and DG MOs should be held to ensure full compliance with the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding.
The two sides have also agreed to revive Track II dialogue to explore ways of resolving issues that are lingering for a long time and need to be resolved in order to give peace a chance. Modalities for this track will be worked out through diplomatic channels.
There was a frank discussion on each other’s concerns. Pakistan has been deeply concerned, not only about hostile statements from Indian Ministers but also about Indian interference in Pakistan, including continuing support for insurgency in Balochistan.
India on the other hand has been repeating its traditional accusations of cross border terrorism while overlooking the decisive counter terrorism campaign launched by Pakistan in the past 2 years. To address these acrimonious concerns the two sides agreed that the National Security Advisers of the two countries would meet, first in New Delhi and then in Islamabad.
On Mumbai trial case, our view has been, and was so in this meeting as well, that we need more evidence and information to conclude the trial.
The reference to ‘additional information’ is a recognition of the need that more information is needed to expedite the trial.
Mr. Nawaz Sharif also sought information on the progress made on the trial of Samjhauta express terrorist incident. Issues of bilateral trade also came up. All these issues will now be followed up through different channels.
