Kashmir issue's solution mandatory whether India accepts or does not accept it: FM

LAHORE (92 News) – Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that the resolution of the Kashmir issue is mandatory whether India accepts or does not accept it. In 92 News’ Program 92@8 on Tuesday, he said that it seems India could do something in Kashmir. “I predict a strong response from the Kashmiris if India does something which is being feared,” he said. The foreign minister said that US President’s offer to media the Kashmir dispute is a big success of Pakistan. “It is admission of the point that he thinks the Kashmir issue is a hurdle in durable peace in the region,” he said. He said that atrocities in Occupied Kashmir have been clearly mentioned in the report of the United Nations. “The Kashmir dispute is getting complex day by day. It has become the centre of international attention whether India accepts or does not it,” he said. Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that their task was to make an effort. “The US president’s offer of mediation on the Kashmir issue is a ground reality,” he said. “I am going to write a letter to the UN secretary general.” He said that China is with Pakistan for peace and stability in the region. “Pak-China relations are very deep. Both have no doubt on each other,” he said. Earlier on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that Pakistan is not a guarantor but only facilitator in the Afghan peace process. “The entire onus of the Afghan peace process cannot be put on Pakistan.” He said that Pakistan maintains that it is the shared responsibility of all the stakeholders to take forward the peace process. The minister said that Prime Minister Imran Khan wants to have a meeting with the Taliban to woo them for the intra Afghan dialogue. He said that Pakistan is moving forward in good faith. “Convergence was seen on Afghan issue during a meeting between Prime Minister Imran Khan and the US President Donald Trump. This has opened a new chapter in Pakistan-US relations.” He said the US visit remained very successful in achieving the objectives and this stands also reflected in the restoration of suspended assistance. Responding to a question, the Foreign Minister regretted that India is neither ready to hold talks bilaterally with Pakistan on Kashmir dispute nor does it accept the third party mediation.