NEW DELHI: Pakistan High Commissioner in New Delhi Abdul Basit invited India for talks and said that statements against each other must be avoided.
“Let’s talk with each other and not against each other,” he said during an interview with an Indian newspaper. Abdul Basit said that Jammu and Kashmir continues to be the core dispute between Pakistan and India and Pakistan strongly believe that this dispute can only be resolved through serious and sustained diplomacy.
“The issue of Kashmir is the basic cause for conflict between the two countries,” he added.
He said that attacks in Uri and Baramulla clearly tell that Jammu and Kashmir dispute needs to be resolved in accordance with the aspirations of people of the Valley. Abdul Basit said that no surgical strike had been conducted by India and that only cross-border firing had taken place on September 29.
“On September 29, no activity took place other than cross-border firing,” he said. “It was said clearly in the Indian DGMO’s statement that the incident occurred at the Line of Control,” he added. He said that a couple of Pakistani and foreign journalists were given a tour of the place where the cross-border firing between India and Pakistan had taken place. No effects of an Indian surgical strike could be found in the area, he said. “India has, for the first time, admitted violating the cease-fire agreement,” he added. Regarding the Uri attack, Abdul Basit said that as soon as an attack took place in India, fingers were pointed at Pakistan. He emphasized that blaming Pakistan would not help to thwart future attacks on India.
Abdul Basit further said that it is important to avoid drawing wrong conclusions and raising false expectations, because it is not in our mutual interest. He further said that both Pakistan and India need to give diplomacy centre-stage and it is important to talk to each other and that appears the best possible way forward. —INP
