Islamabad, March 24 (IANS) The Kashmir issue should be addressed according to the will of the Kashmiri people who are important stakeholders in the resolution of the conflict, Pakistan said on Tuesday.
The Pakistan Foreign Office said that the wishes of the Kashmiri people would be determined through a free and impartial plebiscite under the UN’s authority, as expressed in relevant UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, Dawn online reported.
“Kashmiris are important stakeholders as they are the ones required to exercise their right to self-determination,” the foreign office spokesperson Tasneem Aslam said in a statement.
She was reacting to comments made by the spokesman for the India’s external affairs ministry, Syed Akbaruddin, on Monday that there was no place for a third party in the dialogue process with Pakistan.
“Let me reiterate there are only two parties and there is no place for a third party in resolution of India-Pakistan issues. The only way forward to proceed on all outstanding issues is a peaceful bilateral dialogue within the framework of Simla Agreement and Lahore Declaration,” Akbaruddin said.
Aslam added that Pakistan remained committed to a sustained, unconditional and result-oriented dialogue with India, to discuss all outstanding issues, including the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir.
She reiterated that Pakistan had all along maintained that dialogue between the two countries is important for peace, economic development and welfare of the people of South Asia.