Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office Spokesman Nafees Zakaria on Thursday said Pakistan is ready for result-oriented dialogue with India, without preconditions but on other hand India always set prerequisites.

He expressed these views at the Foreign Office in a weekly media briefing.

Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesman said that during Heart of Asia Conference there would be no bilateral meeting with Pakistani delegation. Zakaria said Pakistan is in favour of dialogue to resolve all outstanding issues, particularly Kashmir issue through dialogue.

The FO spokesman said Pakistan believed in peaceful neighborhood, adding that Pakistan also considers dialogue is the best option for resolving all outstanding issues. He said despite India’s negative role for postponement of SAARC Summit in Islamabad, Pakistan is participating in Heart of Asia Conference in New Delhi.

To a question, the spokesman said, “We welcome statement of United States President-elect Donald Trump in which he expressed desire to visit Pakistan after assuming his office and Pakistan also attaches great importance to historical relations with US.” He hoped that his visit would further strengthen relations between the two countries.

He said Pakistan also welcomed earlier statement of Trump in which he had shown his willingness to play role as a mediator between Pakistan and India for dialogue on Kashmir.

On Trump’s close relations with Israel and India, he said he cannot response on bilateral relations of other countries. But, these relations should not affect any other country. He said Pakistan wanted resolution of Palestine issue and due to this it had not maintained relations with Israel.

Zakaria said the meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Adviser Sartaj Aziz ahead of Heart of Asia Conference is aimed at leadership guidance.

“We believe in peaceful neighborhood, but on other side India heightened tension on LoC and Working Boundary, which is great concern for Pakistan,” he said.

He said Heart of Asia Conference and QCG are different, but have same purpose that is peace in Afghanistan. He said that Pakistan has given importance to peace and stability in Afghanistan.