ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated on Monday that dialogue between India and Pakistan was not possible in the present circumstances due to India’s hostile behaviour towards Kashmir and Pakistan.
He said during the Senate’s defence committee session, “Dialogue between India and Pakistan is not possible in the present circumstances.” He maintained that India’s hostile behaviour towards Kashmir and Pakistan was an obstacle in carrying out smooth process of dialogue between the neighbourly countries.
Earlier, Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, reacting to Indian Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj’s statement on Kashmir, had stated that a verdict on the future of Kashmir can only be given by the people of Kashmir. Swaraj had said on Saturday that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif must understand that “Kashmir can never become a part of Pakistan”.
She also accused Pakistan of backing militants with the help of UN-designated militants and notorious figures such as Hafiz Saeed, in order to turn the valley into a living hell.
In another development, the Senate defence committee was informed on Monday that the new border gate on Torkham, a major crossing point on the Pak-Afghan border, is ready and would be opened on August 1. “New gate complex would house Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Customs and other security offices and no entry would be allowed without proper travel documents,” Additional Secretary Defence Abid Nazir said.
He added that round the clock surveillance would be conducted at the crossing point and the double wire fence on the border and the gate complex would ensure check on illegal movement. Pakistan and Afghanistan had formally agreed over ceasefire at Torkham after days of skirmishes between the forces of both the sides, which cost the life of a Pakistan Army officer and also caused losses on Afghanistan’s side. The construction work on Torkham gate was restarted following the ceasefire agreement between the two sides.
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