New Delhi: According to media reports Pakistan has said PM Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi have agreed in their meeting in Russia to address the issues of Kashmir, Siachen and Sir Creek through Track II diplomacy.
PM’s Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz yesterday said both leaders were of the opinion that for lasting peace the way forward was to address the outstanding issues like Kashmir, Siachen and Sir Creek.
“The two sides also agreed to take up these issues under the back-channel Track-II mechanism for better understanding of each other’s point of view,” the Dawn quoted Aziz as saying.
The adviser said that the meeting between the two leaders was held in “very good atmosphere” as both sides believed that peace in the region was vital for progress.
Separatist of Kashmiri on Friday had criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif for ignoring the Kashmir issue.
Separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani criticised the joint statement and said “This latest announcement is going to lead us nowhere. Unless the dialogue process aims at resolution of the basic problem of Kashmir, it would not move beyond a photo ops session between the leaders of the two countries”.
However J&K Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed welcomed the initiative saying: “We warmly welcome the latest initiative taken by the prime minister of the country and his Pakistani counterpart to revive the peace process between the two neighbouring countries.”
Former chief minister and Leader of Opposition National Conference, Omar Abdullah, also said: “Resumption of the Indo-Pak dialogue is a welcome development. I only hope that this time it is sustained over the long term for results.”