British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond urged Pakistan and India to not allow ‘non-state actors’ and other pressure groups to derail the peace process. He said that while addressing a joint press conference in Islamabad with Pakistan’s Advisor to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz.
Philip Hammond lauded the initiative of Pakistan for investigating into the Pathankot airbase attack. He also welcomed the statement of Pakistani officials to make country free from militant groups without discrimination of any sort. He also talked about the importance of peaceful relations of both the countries to make region peaceful. He also said that diplomacy should keep working as this is the only way forward. He was of the view that stalled foreign secretary level talks should take place. British Foreign Secretary also appreciated the resolve of Pakistan to root-out terrorism from the country. He termed efforts of Pakistan as role model for other countries which are battling with extremism.
India and Pakistan were heading towards the right path of indulging in bilateral talks due to a series of diplomatic breakthroughs but airbase attack put behind all the developments. India’s Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar other day said that Pakistani non-state actors were definitely responsible for the attack they could not have functioned smoothly without assistance from state actors. Despite the few illogical voices governments of both the countries have understanding and cooperation to ensure tensions are not exacerbated. According to latest reports Pakistan is sharing intelligence reports on possible militant infiltrations of the Indian border. Both the countries need to understand that indulging in talks is the only way forward.
Diplomacy and cooperation is the only way forward for both countries to break the standoff.
