Irresponsible Indian statements imperilling regional peace: FO

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office (FO) Spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri has said that Pakistan wants to have good relations with all its neighbours, but irresponsible actions and statements from India are restricting regional peace and security.
Responding to a question during his weekly news briefing on Friday, he said that New Delhi’s acts, especially in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK), should immediately be addressed. He said that India needs to create an enabling environment for meaningful engagement. He said that regional peace and security will remain at stake till India does not refrain from taking illegal, inhumane and unjustified action.
Chaudhri said that Pakistan will take every possible measure for the welfare of the people of IOK and to safeguard their interest. He said that India deliberately targets civilian populated areas and commits unprovoked ceasefire violations. He said that Pakistan has always taken utmost caution to avoid collateral damage while responding to Indian provocations.
Replying to a question regarding Pakistan’s role in the Afghan peace process, Chaudhri said, “We always believe that a politically negotiated settlement is the only way forward for durable peace in Afghanistan.”
Highlighting three important developments regarding the Afghan peace process during the previous year, the spokesperson said that agreement between the Afghan Taliban and the United States, initiation of intra-Afghan negotiations and agreement on rules and procedure will help succeed the dialogue process. He said that the Afghan peace process has reached a critical stage where all stakeholders should take advantage of this opportunity in taking the dialogue initiative to a conclusion.
Chaudhri expressed the hope that intra-Afghan negotiations that are scheduled to start on Tuesday next will be productive and move the process forward for durable peace and stability in Afghanistan as well as in the entire region.