ISLAMABAD — Pakistan on Friday said it has always welcomed the international community playing a role in promoting peace in the region, including in facilitating a dialogue with India for the resolution of the core issues, including on Kashmir.
Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch made these comments during the weekly press briefing here, when she was asked about third-party mediation between the two neighbours.
“Regarding Pakistan – India relations and the facilitation by third parties, including the US, Pakistan has always maintained that we would welcome the international community to play a role in promoting peace in the region including in facilitating dialogue for the resolution of the core issues, including the Kashmir dispute,” FO spokesperson Baloch said.
India has previously rejected any third-party mediation on the Kashmir issue.
Relations between India and Pakistan have been strained over the Kashmir issue and cross-border terrorism.
The ties between the two countries nosedived after India abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution, revoking the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcating the State into two Union Territories on August 5, 2019.
India’s decision evoked strong reaction from Pakistan, which downgraded diplomatic ties and expelled the Indian envoy.
Trade ties between Pakistan and India have largely been frozen since then. — (PTI)