Pakistan welcomes international community's concerns and its efforts for resolving the Kashmir issue for bringing durable peace in the sub-continent. Chairman Parliamentary Special Committee on Kashmir Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman said this in a statement, issued here on Thursday.
Fazl-ur-Rehman said resolution of Kashmir issue is a must for durable peace in the region. "The sooner it is resolved, the better it will be for the peace in South Asia". He pointed that the Kashmiri people had rendered unprecedented sacrifices to get freedom from India. Due to the valiant struggle of Kashmiris and sincere efforts by Pakistan, Kashmir issue has been highlighted at the international level, he added.
He further said India as well as big powers of the world have accepted the issue as an outstanding dispute, which needs serious efforts for early resolution. US President Obama, in his election campaign, stressed the urgency of resolving the issue, he pointed. Similar statements were made by the British Foreign Secretary Miliband and French Spokesman, he added. The US government has now assigned the job of studying the Kashmir dispute to Stephen Cohen. He said, reportedly, Richard Holbrooke has also formulated a draft for the solution of Kashmir issue.
"We have all along been stressing the need of good relations between the two nations. We therefore, welcome any move from any side, which can bring about a durable peace in the sub-continent. However, he said, no effort could yield positive results unless the core issue of Kashmir is resolved.
"We are not against the campaign like 'Aman Ki Asha', but we have to see how serious they are in their efforts for resolving the core issue of Kashmir". He advised India to withdraw its forces, revoke the black laws enforced in Jammu and Kashmir, and release all detained Kashmiris for developing a congenial atmosphere and bringing relief for the Kashmiri people.