No talks on India’s terms, says Sartaj

islamabad — Adviser to Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on Monday underscored that Pakistan will not hold dialogue on India’s terms.

He said Pakistan will not be part of any dialogue process that is based on ‘Indian terms’ and no dialogue would be held with India until ‘Kashmir and water issues’ were part of it.

Speaking to media representatives here after inauguration of the 10th meeting of heads of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) countries, Sartaj said that even if cordial terms are not possible with India, Pakistan wants to maintain tension-free relations with her.

Sartaj said Pakistan will take up India’s hostile statements against Pakistan with the United Nations’ Secretary General Ban ki Moon.

However, Sartaj, said Pakistan wants tension-free relations with India even if cordial ties were not possible.

Earlier, addressing the educa- tion experts of Saarc countries, Sartaj was quoted by Radio Pakistan as saying that Pakistan is a peace-loving country and stands by its position to resolve all outstanding issues with India through dialogue.

He said Pakistan desires to resume dialogue with India with particular focus on resolving Kashmir and water issues.

Sartaj said Pakistan will also raise these issues on the platform of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting to be held in Jeddah.

Meanwhile, addressing the convocation ceremony of ‘National Security and War Course’ at the National Defence University in Islamabad on Monday, President Mamnoon Hussain condemned Indian propaganda against the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.

The president urged people not to over-react to the statements and stand by the government to rebut in a suitable manner. He reiterated that the nation must support the government and armed forces to overcome challenges.