Kashmir issue should be resolved according to UN resolutions: Jamali

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali said on Friday that the Kashmir problem should be resolved according to United Nations resolutions and with participation by Kashmiris.

In an interview with Indus TV, the PM said, “Pakistan wants implementation of the UN resolutions to resolve the core issue and the long-standing dispute of Kashmir between India and Pakistan.”

Mr Jamali said the resumption of a meaningful and result-oriented dialogue between Pakistan and India was a must for peace and stability in the region.

Replying a question about the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit, he hoped that Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee would attend the summit and relations between both countries would improve. He said Pakistan always wanted to have good relations with its neighbours.

The PM said there were problems on the road to peace but mutual trust would open new avenues for a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute and other issues. He said it was important to resolve outstanding disputes through political and diplomatic channels. “To improve the environment or make it conducive is a good objective but not an alternative to a comprehensive and composite dialogue,” he added. Regarding the parliamentary system in Pakistan the PM said parliament was an institution that was revived after three years. Parliament, he added, should be run peacefully and honourably to strengthen the democratic system as Pakistan had been through a transitory phase and needed time to strengthen its democratic system.

He said the government could not pay full attention to people’s problems due to political issues but hoped it would be able to focus on people’s welfare better next year.

Referring to the opposition’s protests, the PM said it was its right.

About resolving the political crisis, the PM said there would be good news for people in the new parliamentary year. “There will be a good working relationship with the opposition in the new parliamentary year,” he added.

The PM said he had already directed his economic advisors to use all resources for the welfare of people and to resolve their problems.

He said all provincial governments had been asked to provide proprietary rights to dwellers of Katchi Abadis, he said.

The PM said unemployment and poverty would be reduced with measures being taken by the government. Regarding water distribution between provinces, the PM said there were limited water resources in the form of River Indus and it had to be distributed according to the requirements of the provinces.

He said every province would benefit from the Kalabagh Dam because it would resolve the water shortage in Pakistan. He said the dam had been made a political issue.

Mr Jamali said there was no dispute regarding powers between him and the president. “Both are working in their specified parameters laid down in the Constitution,” he said, adding that a common factor between the president and the PM was “Pakistan first” and both had commonality of views on this subject.

Talking about the Legal Framework Order issue, the PM said it was not an issue for the people and if the opposition had any problem, they could move an amendment in the assembly. —APP

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