Pak-India comprehensive dialogue to encompass all issues including J&K: Sartaj

ISLAMABAD, December 26: Advisor to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz has said that the comprehensive dialogue between Pakistan and India would encompass all issues including Jammu and Kashmir.
In an interview, he said in Friday’s meeting in Lahore, Prime Ministers of the two countries decided that Foreign Secretaries would meet in the midst of next month to decide details of dialogue on all issues.
He said the Foreign Secretaries would decide what issue would be taken up at what level, when and where.
Sartaj Aziz said it would not be fair to expect instant
resolution of all issues and therefore, initially focus would be on reduction of tension and maintenance of calm on the Line of Control to provide relief to the people living across LoC. He said as the dialogue would proceed, all issues would be discussed.
To a question he said promotion of good neighbourly relations with all neighbours is the policy of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as this is a pre-requisite for fruition of projects aimed at regional connectivity and resolution of energy crisis.
Asked why he could not joint Lahore meeting, Sartaj Aziz said the Indian Prime Minister gave short notice for the meeting and it was not possible for him or for the National Security Advisor to reach Lahore from Islamabad. However, Foreign Secretary, who was already in Lahore, joined the meeting. From Indian side, their National Security Advisor and the Foreign Secretary were present in the meeting of the two Prime Ministers.