Pakistan calls for ‘prioritizing’ dialogue, diplomacy to ease tensions with India

ISLAMABAD

Pakistan on Friday called for “prioritizing” dialogue and diplomacy to ease tensions with India.

Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Shafqat Ali Khan told reporters in Islamabad that the ceasefire in effect between Islamabad and New Delhi was a “positive” development and urged New Delhi to “adhere faithfully to its implementation” and also prioritize regional stability and the well-being of its citizens.

It came a day after Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar called for "composite dialogue" with India to resolve all issues between the two neighbors.

There was no immediate response from New Delhi by the time of publication of this story.

The military escalation between two archrivals began on the night of May 06 when New Delhi fired missiles inside Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, hitting what New Delhi said were "nine terror locations," triggering retaliation on May 10 by Islamabad, which hit 26 Indian military targets inside its eastern neighbor as well as in Indian-administered Kashmir.

However, the US mediated a ceasefire between the two last weekend, which remains in effect, and the two rival militaries on Thursday decided to continue “confidence-building measures to reduce alertness level.”

Welcoming US President Donald Trump’s statement to play his role in the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman said: "We reiterate our support for President Trump's announcement on engaging with Pakistan and India to seek a resolution to the Jammu and Kashmir dispute."

New Delhi, however, has said Kashmir was a bilateral issue with Islamabad and that any talks with Pakistan should include only “terror” and issues related to Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

Following the April 22 attack by unidentified gunmen in Indian-administered Kashmir, which left 26 people dead – triggering the latest escalation—India unilaterally suspended the decades-old Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, which continues to remain in abeyance.

“There was no clause in the treaty under which it could be held in abeyance. It could neither be amended nor terminated unilaterally,” Dar told parliament on Thursday.