Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said Monday that Pakistan's efforts are aimed at resolution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
He was talking to newsmen at a reception hosted here on Monday night at a lawn on Kashmir Road by the Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping, Senator Babar Khan Ghauri. The Prime Minister pointed out that today we are marking the Kashmir Solidarity Day.
Shaukat Aziz said that he spent the day in Azad Kashmir, visited various places there and talked to the people. He said the people see a hope that the four-point agenda, envisioned by President Pervez Musharraf, would pave the way for the resolution of this outstanding dispute.
He said that these efforts are aimed at finding a solution to the Kashmir issue through dialogue and in a peaceful manner. The Prime Minister made it clear that there could be no definite time period as in negotiations no one can say when the result would emerge.
"Our intentions are very clear. We have always sided with the Kashmiris and Insha Allah we will continue to do that," he added. Shaukat Aziz said that a solution in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of the Kashmiris, would be durable one. "The Kashmiri people are the most important stakeholders apart from Pakistan and India," he added.
Replying to a question, he said that the United Nations resolutions on Kashmir were still relevant. He said the proposals of President Musharraf would pave the way for moving forward. These include demilitarisation, Prime Minister said, adding that India had deployed 700,000 troops in occupied Kashmir apart from paramilitary force and one could imagine what difficulties this would be causing to the people there. To a question, Shaukat Aziz said that "we have invited all the leaders of Kashmir without any distinction for dialogue and consultations and Syed Ali Gilani is also an important leader of Kashmir".
Earlier, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz arrived here from Islamabad on Monday night. At the Karachi Airport, he was received by the Sindh Governor, Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan, and officials of the provincial government. The Prime Minister was accompanied by the Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Muhammad Ali Durrani, and Federal Minister for Industries, Jehangir Khan Tarin.