The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) On Tuesday made it clear that talks with India were only feasible if the “illegal action of August 5, 2019” was undone and that “negotiations are not possible without India’s retraction of this step.”
PM Shehbaz proposed discussions between the two countries during an interview with the UAE’s Al Arabiya news station, saying, “Let us sit down at the table and have genuine and sincere talks to resolve our burning concerns like Kashmir.”
He added that India has stolen any semblance of autonomy granted to the Kashmiris by Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, saying “In Kashmir, egregious human rights violations were going place day in and day out.”
The PMO spokesperson provided clarification, stating that PM Shehbaz has consistently maintained that Pakistan and India must resolve their bilateral concerns, particularly the core issue of Jammu & Kashmir, through negotiation and peaceful methods.”
The statement continued, “However the PM has repeatedly stated on record that talks can only take place after India had reversed its illegal action of August 5, 2019; without India’s revocation of this step, negotiations are not possible.”
The PM made this position extremely clear in his interview with Al Arabiya news channel during his recent visit to the UAE, the spokesperson insisted, adding that “the settlement of the Kashmir problem must conform with the UN resolutions and the aspirations of the people of Jammu & Kashmir.
