Pakistan on Friday termed Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's peace offer as "positive", but called for "bold steps" by the leaders of both countries to resolve outstanding issues, including that of Jammu and Kashmir.
"We have always stated that the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir issue can release the full potential of the peoples of South Asia to make progress and fight poverty, disease and ignorance," Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said in response to Indian Prime Minister's statement at the opening of the new Nankana Sahib-Amritsar bus service.
The spokesperson recalled President Musharraf's statement who termed these as very serious challenges facing the nations of this region. She, however, pointed that the leadership of both countries needs to take bold steps to resolve the outstanding issues.
The Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh earlier offered "a treaty of peace, security and friendship" to Pakistan to help resolve their outstanding issues at Amritsar. "We also need sincerity and flexibility in order to overcome the legacy of the past," the spokesperson added.
The bus service, fourth between the two countries, brings 40 passengers to Nankana Sahib - birthplace of founder of the Sikh religion - Guru Nanak Dev, from Amritsar - home of the Sikh's holiest shrine - The Golden Temple.
Referring to Indian Prime Ministers' statement, she said, "We believe the speech reflects many positive sentiments and a strong acknowledgement of the need to move forward on Jammu and Kashmir and other issues."
Ms Aslam said Pakistan is the hub of economic activity and has offered energy corridors to India from Central Asia and Iran. "It is in view of the ground realities and the unrealised vast potential of the peoples of South Asia that Pakistan has been always emphasising the need for building confidence and resolving problems specially the Jammu and Kashmir dispute which has been at the heart of conflict, mistrust and hostility and which has bedevilled relations between the two countries for such a long time."
Comments
Comments are closed.