Pakistan wants resolution of Kashmir issue for durable peace in South Asia: Bilawal Bhutto

Celina Ali

Islamabad: The head of the Pakistan parliamentary delegation and former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Saturday apprised the international community that Pakistan wanted permanent peace in South Asia region, resolution of longstanding Kashmir issue, water problems and terrorism through composite dialogue but India was not ready in this regard.

Speaking at a news conference to international media in Brussels, the Chairman of Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) called the internationally community to play its vital role and to engage with India and emphasize that military confrontation was not a solution to the Kashmir dispute or terrorism, stressing that dialogue was the only way forward.

It was a moral obligation, he said that all international community should play its part to encourage both sides to engage in dialogue through diplomacy for peace in the region, adding that Pakistan wanted bilateral composite dialogue to tackle the issues on table.

“Escalation is not a solution of the issues confronting between two nuclear states,” Bilawal stressed.

Former Foreign Minister said that Pakistan was desirous of durable peace in the sub-continent, but not escalation or weaponization of water. The United States (US) was willing for mediation on Kashmir dispute, but India had always adopted non-serious attitude to sort out the problems with Pakistan, he highlighted.

He said that following the stand off with India , Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif nominated a parliamentary delegation from Pakistan to advocate for the peace in the region through engaging with international community by urging them to play role in defusing tension between two countries.

“We believe that there is no military solution of Kashmir, terrorism and water issues between India and Pakistan. During the five days misadventures between two nuclear powers, international community had taken serious steps for finally made ceasefire between two countries,” the PPP chairman added.

He said that Kashmir dispute was pending on the agenda of the UN since many decades. He urged the UN to make the Kashmir issue a top most agenda for its peaceful settlement.

Following the terrorists’ attacks in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), he said, the prime minister publicially offered for impartial investigation into Pahalgam incident but India say no.

Bilawal Bhutto said that India illegally and unilaterally suspended Indus Water Treaty (IWT) to cut the water supply of Pakistan which was a clear violation of UN charter. He said that IWT was only source of water for agriculture, agriculture economy and termed as a threat to our survival.

“Pakistan is acting on the threat, we consider it a war with no choice,” he added. This l, he said was first water war between two nuclear powers in this context,Pakistan seeks international community help in this regard,” former foreign minister.

“We are here to present Pakistan’s stance on recent tensions with India and expose New Delhi’s anti-Pakistan agenda”. He emphasized that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute must be resolved in line with United Nations Security Council resolutions.

Bilawal Bhutto held press conference along with parliamentary delegation including Federal Minister for Climate Change Dr. Musadik Malik, PPP Senator Shery Rehman, Former Foreign Minister Hina Rabbni Khar and former federal minister for Defence Khurran Dastigar and others.