Kashmir will always be core issue of Indo-Pak talks: Kaira

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan’s Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Qamar Zaman Kaira, has said that as far as Islamabad is concerned, the Kashmir issue is and will always be the core subject of discussions between Pakistan and India.

“Pakistan wants to hold discussions (with India) on all issues, and wants to resolve all pending issues, but the core issue is the Kashmir issue,” Kaira told ANI.We always say we are ready to resolve all issues. India has its own security concerns,” he added.

Kaira also said that the resumption of talks between Pakistan and India should be seen as a positive sign for subcontinent ties, and added that he was hopeful about the suspended composite dialogue restarting.

“We welcome this acceptance (for a dialogue) by the Indian side, and now resumption of dialogue, ultimately to the composite dialogue. We hope so, because dialogue is the only way forward for better relations between India and Pakistan,” Kaira said.

“We believe we are handcuffed with history and chained in the future, we don’t have any options for each other. Our government is eager, our Prime Minister, President. We were saying that we need resumption of dialogue to resolve our outstanding issues,” he added.

“In the media, there are certain sections they are supporting. It as it is India. They have their independent opinion that doesn’t reflect the will of the government,” Kaira said.

“I am concerned about media reporting, I feel that the media has become part of the conflict. We should report conflict; we should report the conflict neutrally. One should express his or her opinion. In India and Pakistan, media becomes party to the conflict. This is my observation, it may be wrong. Media can play a very vital role, if we report the conflict properly,” the minister concluded. (ANI)