News Desk
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday welcomed U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s offer of playing a role in resolution of longstanding issues.
Speaking at the weekly press briefing on Thursday, FO spokesman Nafees Zakaria said that on several occasions during his election campaign, Trump had offered to play the role of mediator as tensions escalated between the two countries on account of the situation in Kashmir.
Regarding talks with India, Zakaria said Pakistan would not accept any pre-conditions for holding dialogue with India.
‘It is always India that is putting up conditions for dialogue with Pakistan,’ the spokesman said.
The spokesman added that ‘whenever a dialogue is held between Islamabad and New Delhi, all outstanding issues will be discussed’.
On the upcoming Heart of Asia Conference he said Pakistan would attend the meeting due to its commitment to Afghanistan’s peace and stability and ‘despite India’s negativity in scuttling SAARC process.
Spokesman Nafees Zakaria said that Pakistan believed in peaceful neighbourhood and regarded dialogue as the best option for resolution of issues.
‘Every country has its own share of bringing stability in Afghanistan and Pakistan’s participation means its commitment for peace and stability in Afghanistan,’ he said.
Zakaria said the current phase of indigenous self-determination movement in Indian occupied Kashmir had entered into the fifth month and was continuing in the face of worst violations of human rights of defenceless Kashmiris at the hands of Indian occupation forces.
Zakaria said that Pakistan had been insisting on ‘independent fact finding mission to the IoK’ and similar demands from UN High Commissioner in Geneva, OIC and OIC Contact Group’s Members had not been met.
