Islamabad is always willing for meaningful dialogue between Pakistan and India. FO

Islamabad: Foreign Office spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Thursday said Islamabad is always willing for a result-oriented and meaningful dialogue to address various issues between Pakistan and India.

Responding to a question during his weekly briefing in Islamabad, he said Jammu and Kashmir dispute is one of the core issues in any Pakistan-India dialogue.

He said Pakistan is always been open and never shies away from dialogue. He said it is India that has not been willing to engage in such a dialogue with Pakistan even after the illegal and unilateral actions that India took in IIOJK on 5th August 2019.

He said all subsequent illegal actions further vitiated the environment and seriously damaged the trust required for such kind of dialogue. He, however, said despite all that dialogue is important and we have urged India to take the necessary steps, including reversion of all those illegal actions in order to create an environment in which a meaningful and result-oriented can take place.

Responding to another question, the Spokesperson said that over 33 million people have been affected due to devastating floods in Pakistan. He said keeping in view the magnitude of the flood devastations; Pakistan needs more international assistance to cope with the challenge.

He said the nation was resolutely braving the disastrous consequenes of the climate-induced calamity. Disruption of lives and livelihoods, destruction of infrastructure and devastation brought about by the unprecedented rains and floodsacross various parts of Pakistan is really heart-wrenching.

“Over 33 million of our compatriots are affected – millions displaced from their homes and in need of shelter, over 1300 lives lost and more than 13000 injured,” he added.