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Heart of Asia: Pakistan says ready to talk with India on all issues

By Web Desk
December 04, 2016

AMRITSAR: Pakistan has once again offered India for a dialogue on all issues including terrorism within the framework of a comprehensive dialogue agreed upon on the sidelines of last year’s Heart of Asia conference.

In an interview with Indian newspaper on the eve of Heart of Asia conference, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said whenever India is ready, we will be ready. Terrorism is a subject under the comprehensive dialogue, when we meet, we can discuss that also,” he added.

“I am here to attend the Heart of Asia meeting and, by coming here, we are showing our commitment to, first of all, the importance of Heart of Asia for Afghanistan’s peace and security. I am also here to show our commitment to peace and security of the region, and commitment to promote multilateral peace for this purpose,” Aziz said.

“If India shows any interest, I would certainly like to meet. I don’t think we need to request for a meeting. We are here, so we will see how it goes,” Aziz said.

Pakistan, he said, was “desirous” of peace. “Peace requires dialogue, any issues can be discussed across the table than through the media. If we don’t have structured dialogue, then the dialogue through media increases hostility and increases negative perceptions,” Aziz said.

An Indian official said that there is no possibility of a bilateral India-Pakistan meeting on the sidelines of the moot.

However, Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met Sartaj Aziz and they talked for over half an hour, an Indian news channel reported.

 

Sartaj Aziz also met Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on sidelines of the moot. They discussed ways to bring peace and stability in Afghanistan.