Talks with India impossible without inclusion of Kashmir issue: Sartaj

ISLAMABAD: Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said on Monday that no dialogue process will take place with India unless Kashmir issue is not included in it.

Speaking at a news briefing in Islamabad, he said Pakistan stays firm on its principled stance on the issue with dignity and honour and no compromise will be made on it.

He said the meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ufa was not the formal start of any dialogue process but it served as an important purpose to achieve an understanding that both neighbours must reduce tensions and hostility.

Sartaj said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif raised the issues of Indian involvement in insurgency in Balochistan besides the Samjhota express.

The adviser said the recent meeting with Modi was also aimed at engaging constructively in a structured dialogue on all issues of bilateral and regional interest, including the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir.

He said the two sides have also agreed to revive Track II dialogue to explore ways of resolving issues that are lingering for a long time and need to be resolved in order to give peace a chance.

He said Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) took a unanimous formal decision to admit Pakistan into the organisation and after completing formalities like ratification of SCO documents, Pakistan will become a full-fledged member of the SCO.

Answering a question regarding gas pipeline project with Iran, Sartaj Aziz said as soon sanctions on Iran are lifted the work will be launched on it on priority.