Islamabad has said it is willing to hold talks with India if it shows seriousness toward addressing Kashmir dispute, amidst a dangerous standoff between the two nuclear-armed rivals that has alarmed world capitals.
While renewing Pakistan’s call for a serious dialogue, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also reminded New Delhi that Kashmir dispute is the underlying cause of South Asian tensions.
Speaking to the media during a visit to Baku, Azerbaijan, Sharif regretted that India has not reciprocated Pakistan’s dialogue offer.
He said New Delhi should honor UN Security Council resolutions on the Jammu and Kashmir conflict – one of the oldest issues on the UN agenda.
Tensions have been rising between the two South Asian neighbors in the wake of Indian use of forces to quell widespread protests since July in the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir.
The Indian forces have killed around 100 people of Kashmir, blinded hundreds more with pellet guns and injuring thousands more. A militant attack on Indian army base in Uri – which New Delhi blamed as an act of cross-border terror from Pakistan-controlled part of Kashmir – further soared the political and security temperature.
Both Pakistan and India have accused each other of fomenting terrorism in the region.
Washington has been urging both sides to exercise restraint and address outstanding disputes through talks.
