Pakistan high commissioner talks of peace at Iftar party

NEW DELHI: Soon after Pakistanbased Lashkar-e-Taiba killed eight CRPF jawans in an ambush in the Kashmir Valley, Pakistan high commissioner Abdul Basit hoped the time will come when the two countries would sit together to find a solution to the J&K problem.

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“Jammu & Kashmir is a dispute between India and Pakistan. Both countries agree that the issue has to be resolved through dialogue. We hope that the time will come when the two will sit and find a solution to the issue... I won’t further comment on it. I have said what I had to say. I request you that this is an Iftar party. Let us have an Iftar party and enjoy ourselves,” he said on the sidelines of an Iftar dinner he had hosted at the high commission.

Earlier, addressing the gathering, Basit said Pakistan wanted peace and stability between the two countries and in the region.

“Our two countries must work together to have a tension-free and a cooperative relationship,” he said.

“We must solve all our problems and settle all our disputes, including Jammu & Kashmir, peacefully to usher in an era of stability and prosperity in South Asia,” he added. Basit said Pakistan’s foreign policy revolved around peace, stability and prosperity for all countries. “This also drives our India policy,” he said.

Among others, some Hurriyat leaders and Syed Ahmed Bukhari, Shahi Imam of the city’s Jama Masjid were also present.

After the dinner, Basit spent some time closeted with the Hurriyat leaders.