Pak regrets India’s snub to US offer on Kashmir

TIL Desk/World/Islamabad-Pakistan has expressed regret at India’s snub to the US offer to help resolve the Kashmir issue between the two neighbours, saying New Delhi as usual “reacted negatively” to the proposal. Pakistan always welcomed offers of mediation, which has been made by various countries, to resolve the Kashmir issue, Foreign Office spokesperson Nafess Zakaria told.

“India as usual reacted negatively to the US offer. India wants to speak of terrorism. We also insist on speaking of terrorism, which forms one of the elements of the comprehensive dialogue process,” he said. The US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, had said on Monday that the US would try and “find its place” in efforts to de-escalate tensions between India and Pakistan.

Speaking at the weekly press briefing, Zakaria said resolution of the Kashmir issue in accordance with the wishes of Kashmiri people and UN resolutions is the only way for durable peace in the region. Accusing India of “trying to hide the atrocities in Kashmir”, the spokesperson said that the protests during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Kashmir visit recently are reflective of the “strong prevailing sentiment of the Kashmiri people”.