Kashmir cannot be precondition for Indo-Pak talks Insists British foreign secretary

Visiting British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond earlier today said, “the issue of Jammu and Kashmir should not be a pre-condition for resumption of India-Pakistan dialogue and urged both countries not to provide space to non-state actors, militants and terrorists to derail the talks process.”

Hammond arrived in Islamabad early morning today on a two-day official visit and held a meeting with Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz at the foreign ministry in Islamabad.

The British foreign secretary also met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and plans to meet Chief of Army Staff Raheel Sharif later in the day.

His itinerary also includes visiting Lahore, where he will meet the chief minister and the Punjab governor separately.

Addressing a joint news conference with Aziz after talks at the foreign ministry, Hammond said an India-Pakistan dialogue is essential for the region’s long-term economic development, peace and security.

“I must appreciate the beginning of investigation by Pakistan into the Pathankot attack,” Hammond remarked.

The British foreign secretary saluted the Pakistani nation for its resilience and resolved against terrorism and said days ahead, Pak,istan would be safer and more stable.

During the talks, both sides reviewed the security situation in Afghanistan, including the reconciliation process.

“Terrorism in Pakistan and Afghanistan is a mutual problem which needs to be tackled jointly,” Hammond said.

He said a trust deficit between Pakistan and Afghanistan could only be overcome when Islamabad and Kabul take steps to tighten space for militants.

Sartaj Aziz said progress on various aspects of cooperation – political, trade and investment, education, health, and defense – was reviewed.

“Under the Enhanced Strategic Dialogue, we have five strands of cooperation: trade and business relations, financial and development cooperation, education and health, consultations on defense and security, and cultural cooperation. In 2014 we prepared roadmaps and targets for each strand of cooperation to guide the concerned ministries and organizations for implementation,” said Aziz

Aziz has been invited to London to discuss the Enhanced Strategic Dialogue in two weeks.