Staff Reporter
Islamabad
Pakistan on Tuesday set five pre-conditions for the resumption of “meaningful dialogue” with India. The intension is to resolve all outstanding issues including the longstanding Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) dispute.
In an interview to Indian journalist Karan Thapar, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on National Security Dr Moeed Yousaf said that Pakistan desired peaceful ties with India and wanted to resolve all issues through dialogue.
However, he asserted that for any meaningful dialogue to take place between the two neighbours, India has to release all political prisoners in Kashmir, end inhuman blockade and restrictions, rescind domicile law that allows non-Kashmiris to settle in the disputed territory, stop human rights abuses and end state terrorism in Pakistan.
This is the first time Pakistan put forward its pre-conditions for resumption of talks with India since the Modi government revoked the special status of IIOJK.
“Pakistan would be ready for dialogue with India if Modi government accepts those preconditions,” Moeed said. The PM special assistant also spoke about Indian intelligence agency, Research and Analysis Wing’s, involvement in terrorism in Pakistan.
“Pakistan had evidence that the mastermind of December 2014 APS terrorist attack in Peshawar was in contact with RAW,” he said.
The SAPM added that India used its missions in one of the neighbouring countries of Pakistan to facilitate and sponsor terrorist attack at a five-star Hotel in Gwadar, Chinese Consulate in Karachi and the Pakistan Stock Exchange. “India spent $1 million to ensure the merger of different TTP factions in Afghanistan,” he added. Moeed added Prime Minister Imran Khan wanted a peaceful neighbourhood but India’s expansionist and Hindutva policies were the main hurdles in the way of peace.
