Islamabad: Pakistan has described India`s
move to pull out troops from Jammu and Kashmir as a "gimmick"
intended to deflect the world community`s attention from
resolving the Kashmir issue.
Referring to reports about the withdrawal of 30,000
troops from Jammu and Kashmir, Foreign Office spokesman Abdul
Basit said the region "remains the most militarised area".
"Such gimmicks are not going to deflect the attention of
the world that the Kashmir issue should be resolved in
accordance with the aspirations of Kashmiris," he said.
"Indian civil society and media have started realising
that the time has come to resolve the core Kashmir issue,"
Basit contended in an interview with state-run PTV.
Defence Minister A K Antony had said recently that India
had withdrawn 30,000 soldiers from Jammu and Kashmir over the
last few months.
Pakistan has been insisting that the resolution of the
Kashmir issue is essential for it to focus on the war on
terror along its western border with Afghanistan.
Basit also said India should delink terrorism from the
peace process with Pakistan as dialogue is the option for
achieving durable peace.
He said India had agreed to resume the peace process when
the premiers of the two countries met at Sharm el-Sheikh in
July.
"Unfortunately the whole peace process is facing some
kind of stalemate as confirmed by (the) statement from India
that it would not revert to negotiations unless the Mumbai
attackers are brought to book," Basit said.
The delay in resuming the composite dialogue means
terrorists would be strengthened, he said.
Persons involved in the Mumbai attacks are being
prosecuted and the law should take its normal course, Basit
said.
India suspended the composite dialogue in the wake of
last year`s Mumbai attacks.
It has linked the resumption of the peace process to
Pakistan taking action against the perpetrators of the
attacks.
Basit also blamed India for the unrest in Balochistan
province.
He said: "Pakistan has evidence of Indian involvement in
Balochistan and Pakistan will proceed when the time comes...
We have been raising our concerns regarding Indian involvement
in Balochistan with major countries including the US, UK and
other countries".
India has dismissed Pakistan`s allegations that it is
fomenting unrest in Balochistan.
PTI
