Kashmir cannot be precondition for Indo-Pak talks: British foreign secretary

[ito]

ISLAMABAD: Visiting British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond on Tuesday said the issue of Jammu and Kashmir should not be a pre-condition for resumption of India-Pakistan dialogue and urged both countries not to provide space to non-state actors, militants and terrorists to derail the talks process.

Hammond arrived in Islamabad early Tuesday morning on a two-day official visit, and held a meeting with Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz at the foreign ministry.

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond and Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz. ─ Reuters

The British foreign secretary also met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and plans to meet Chief of Army Staff Raheel Sharif later in the day. His itinerary also includes a visit to Lahore where he will meet the chief minister and the Punjab governor separately.

Addressing a joint news conference with Aziz after talks at the foreign ministry, Hammond said an India-Pakistan dialogue is essential for long-term economic development, peace and security in the region.

"I must appreciate the beginning of investigation by Pakistan into the Pathankot attack," Hammond remarked.

The British foreign secretary paid salute to the Pakistani nation for its resilience and resolve against terrorism, and said days ahead for Pakistan would be safer and stable.

During the talks, both sides reviewed the security situation in Afghanistan, including the reconciliation process.

Britain's Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond. ─ Reuters

"Terrorism in Pakistan and Afghanistan is a mutual problem which needs to be tackled jointly," Hammond said.

He said there is a trust deficit between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which could only be overcome when both Islamabad and Kabul take steps to tighten space for militants.

Sartaj Aziz said progress on various aspects of cooperation – political, trade and investment, education, health, and defense – was reviewed.

"Under the Enhanced Strategic Dialogue we have five strands of cooperation: trade and business relations, financial and development cooperation, education and health, consultations on defence and security, and cultural cooperation. In 2014 we prepared roadmaps and targets for each strand of cooperation to provide guidance to the concerned ministries and organisations for implementation," said Aziz

Aziz has been invited to London to discuss the Enhanced Strategic Dialogue in two weeks.

Kashmir cannot be precondition for Indo-Pak talks: British foreign secretary - Pakistan - DAWN.COM

 

[ito]

@MaarKhoor @Areesh @Joe Shearer @banvanaxl @Syama Ayas

 

[TejasMk3]

urged both countries not to provide space to non-state actors, militants and terrorists to derail the talks process.

Another level equal equal, not surprising as there has always been a soft spot for Pak.

 

[cleverrider]

Another level equal equal, not surprising as there has always been a soft spot for Pak.

Probably samjhota express came into his mind when making that statement. Very nawtie of him....

 

[TejasMk3]

Probably samjhota express came into his mind when making that statement. Very nawtie of him....

Treasury Targets Al Qaida and Lashkar-E Tayyiba Networks in Pakistan

Arif Qasmani is the chief coordinator for Lashkar-e Tayyiba's (LET) dealings with outside organizations and has provided significant support for LET terrorist operations. Qasmani has worked with LET to facilitate terrorist attacks, including the July 2006 train bombing in Mumbai, India, and the February 2007 Samjota Express bombing in Panipat, India. Qasmani conducted fundraising activities on behalf of LET in 2005 and utilized money that he received from Dawood Ibrahim, an Indian crime figure and terrorist supporter, to facilitate the July 2006 train bombing in Mumbai, India.

Since 2001, Arif Qasmani has also provided financial and other support and services to al Qaida, including facilitating the movement of al Qaida leaders and personnel in and out of Afghanistan, the return of foreign fighters to their respective countries, and the provision of supplies and weapons. In return for Qasmani's support, al Qaida provided Qasmani with operatives to support the July 2006 train bombing in Mumbai, India, and the February 2007 Samjota Express bombing in Panipat, India. In 2005, Qasmani provided Taliban leaders with a safe haven and a means to smuggle personnel, equipment, and weapons into Afghanistan

Lashkar e Tayyiba are based of out Pakistan with their buddies AQ, who of course was living next door to Pak army

 

[cleverrider]

Treasury Targets Al Qaida and Lashkar-E Tayyiba Networks in Pakistan
Lashkar e Tayyiba are based of out Pakistan with their buddies AQ, who of course was living next door to Pak army

You are pulling these sources out of Modi ....... On a more serious note this topic has be discussed to death, dont have the time to go over it again.

 

[TejasMk3]

You are pulling these sources out of Modi ....... On a more serious note this topic has be discussed to death, dont have the time to go over it again.

Sure, just like 26/11 was RSS terror and how Pak did not know Osama's location, you can continue to live in fantasy

 

[cleverrider]

Sure, just like 26/11 was RSS terror and how Pak did not know Osama's location, you can continue to live in fantasy

These single out attacks, you can never be sure about, I mean what exactly happened from start to finish. Sometimes you will be told the last bit of the story, sometimes the middle. Whatever they think suit their interests. Agencies around the world play around with a common person mind, let’s leave at that

But I know this much that India and Pakistan have been sponsoring terrrrrrrsssssm in each other’s countries, from Bengal to Kashmir, to Afghanistan.

 

[TejasMk3]

These single out attacks, you can never be sure about,

*yawn* Qasmani was designated an international terrorist due to his involvements, not sure about the "not sure" part. The rest is random speculation, if that comforts you then

 

[Joe Shearer]

@MaarKhoor @Areesh @Joe Shearer @banvanaxl @Syama Ayas

What do I do with this tag? What has been said that has not been said a million times before? Has that had any effect?

You are pulling these sources out of Modi ....... On a more serious note this topic has be discussed to death, dont have the time to go over it again.

No, out of ground realities, which were around decades before Modi.

Please don't waste your time and go over it again.

 

[Spectre]

What do I do with this tag? What has been said that has not been said a million times before? Has that had any effect?

Joe come back! Things have been quite dull here on PDF specially the Indian section. Positively Undemocratic one might say. I will look forward to reading your stimulating posts

 

[Blue Marlin]

buuuh the same old, this Hammond is not the same as Richard Hammond. :-D

Yes no side will budge on talks regarding Kashmir heck even the UN wanted nothing to do with it.
even Obama, he wanted nothing to do with it, and they poke around a lot. or we can wait for Donald trump to sort it out which will be interesting to see.
there is no solution, but hope there's no war.