Pakistan achieves major diplomatic victory in Heart of Asia Conference

Pakistan achieves major diplomatic victory in Heart of Asia Conference

ISLAMABAD, Dec 4 (APP): Pakistani High Commissioner in India Absul Basit said for the first time that the name of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was mentioned in the declartion of HoA Conference. The entire TTP leadership was in Afghanistan and the Afghan authorities and other stakeholder countries should take action against them, he added

Pakistan's High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit Sunday said peace could not prevail in South Asia without the resolution of Kashmir dispute.

The lingering issue of Kashmir was the root cause of tensions between India and Pakistan and it must be resolved according to the wishes of Kashmiris, he said while talking to media on the sidelines of Heart of Asia Conference in Amritsar, India.

Pakistan, Basit said, had always favoured dialogue with India but on equal terms. He, however, added that Pakistan's desire for talks should not be misconstrued as its weakness.

He said Pakistan had been rendering sacrifices for last 35 years for durable peace in Afghanistan. The brunt borne by Pakistan (in the fight against terrorism) after 9/11 incident in the United States was known to all, he added.

Replying to a question, the high commissioner said the joint declaration of Heart of Asia (HoA) Conference was a positive development.Pakistan was already making integrated efforts to eliminate terrorism and all the participant countries of the HoA Conference should work together for durable peace in the region, he added.

Terming the meeting between Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz positive, he expressed the hope that the leadership of both the countries would resolve the mutual issues by sitting together in coming days.

Hurling accusations against Pakistan would not help stop bloodshed and violence in Afghanistan, he added.