Pakistan on Thursday stated that it will not work within any conditionality imposed by India as far as the talks between Islamabad and New Delhi are concerned, adding that as a party to the Kashmir issue, it has every right to talk to people of that region.
"The dialogue between Pakistan and India is not a favour that one country does to the other. Dialogue between Pakistan and India is a necessity for peace in this region so that South Asia also focuses on economic development and welfare of the people. We do not accept any conditionality," Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Tasnim Aslam told the media.
"Kashmiris are not Indian separatists they are people in occupied territory struggling for their right to self-determination that has been recognized by the United Nations resolutions. Pakistan is a party to the dispute. So this contention is not acceptable," she added.
On being asked about India's request for a land route for exporting wheat to Afghanistan, Aslam simply stated that Pakistan will not come in the way of trade.
"Afghanistan is a land locked country and we have provided Afghanistan access. We do not stop trade. The Karachi port is available to India. I am not aware of this specific wheat case," she said.
Aslam further acknowledged Prime Minister Narendra Modi's condemnation of the suicide attack which occurred on the Pakistan side of the Wagah border earlier this week.
"We have seen a statement attributed to the Indian Prime Minister, condemning the terrorist attack. Our authorities are investigating this incident and are in a better position to decide whether we need outside assistance or not," she said.
On Wednesday, Indian Defence Minister Jaitley had stated that there were a few red lines in India's relations with Pakistan and how the Islamic Republic had violated the same by derailing the possible resumption of dialogue at the Foreign Secretary-level when its envoy held talks with Kashmiri separatists.
