KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
Pakistan on Thursday said that it ‘welcomed’ the US president-elect Donald Trump’s offer to mediate between Pakistan and India on the Kashmir dispute.
During a weekly press briefing in Islamabad, Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) Spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said that the president-elect had earlier offered mediation between Pakistan and India on Kashmir dispute and said that Pakistan had welcomed that offer.
Zakaria reiterated Pakistan’s concern over continued ‘atrocities’ committed by forces in Kashmir and said Pakistan would continue to raise the issue at the international level and extend moral, political and diplomatic support to the cause of the Kashmiris.
“Pakistan desires a close relationship with the US, and wishes to further strengthen ties in areas including the economy, defence, science and technology, education, strategic issues and counter-terrorism,” he said.
Pakistan will continue to promote and strengthen existing ties in areas of common interest, the FO said.
Responding to a question regarding the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), Zakaria said Pakistan has approached the World Bank to establish a Court of Arbitration regarding the matter and is looking forward to its establishment at the earliest, the Dawn online reported.
‘Fake encounters in India’
Responding to a question regarding the killing of Muslims in “fake” encounters in India, the FO spokesperson said, “the international community has serious concerns over the situation of Muslims and other minorities in India.”
He claimed that international human rights organisations have documented scores of “fake” encounters in India.
