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Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz told the National Assembly on Friday that talks with India on all issues including Kashmir, Siachan, Sir Creek, easing tension on borders and other matters will start next month for normalisation of relations.
While giving a policy statement, he said foreign secretaries of both Pakistan and India would meet next month to set priorities. Opinion from house committees will be solicited and their guidance will also be sought in this regard, Sartaj Aziz remarked.
Meanwhile, the decision to hold India-Pakistan comprehensive dialogue following Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's meetings during visit here this week has been largely welcomed by the media and analysts, though certain politicians and former diplomats believe the joint statement issued after these meetings tilted towards India.
Opposition in the National Assembly, in particular Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf of Imran Khan and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam's Maulana Fazlur Rehman demanded that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif should brief the assembly about what transpired during talks with the Indian delegation and in the Heart of Asia conference.
Speaking in the National Assembly on Friday, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif paid tribute to prime minister's of the two countries for choosing the path of dialogue to settle outstanding issues.
"I firmly believe that we have no option, neither first nor last, but peace. Any other course would be disastrous for one and a half billion people in the subcontinent," he remarked, asking what was achieved in previous wars fought by the two countries.
Former senior diplomat Shamshad Ahmed who had authored the agenda of composite dialogue in 1998, acknowledged that resumption of talks was a happy development. However, he expression apprehensions over the expression "Comprehensive bilateral dialogue" used in the joint statement. "I believe this is a clear device introduced by India to exclude the Kashmiri representation in the process," he said.
PTI lawmaker Shireen Mazari asked the government to brief the legislature over the outcome of the meeting between Indian Minister Sushma Swaraj and Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and also the matters discussed during the 'Heart of Asia Conference'.
news@khaleejtimes.com
(With input from Online)
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