“The just solution of the Kashmir issue should be in line with the wishes of the people of Kashmir and Pakistan,” Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said.

Pakistan has been insisting for a third party mediation on the Kashmir issue, a demand outright rejected by India, which wants it to be dealt bilaterally.

But chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party recently said ties between the two countries should not be held hostage to the Kashmir issue, which should be left for future generations to resolve.

“Our Kashmir policy was formulated after due consideration and it is the government’s wish to resolve this longstanding issue in accordance with our historic stand,” Qureshi said.

Talks interrupted
India and Pakistan had concluded talks on eight issues under the fourth round of composite dialogue in August last year. But Foreign Secretary-level talks to start the fifth round did not happen due to political turmoil in Pakistan.

Qureshi said External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee has been invited to Pakistan and the dates for his visit are being determined. Ahead of Mukherjee’s trip, Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon will also visit Pakistan to review the fourth round of the composite dialogue.

“Keeping in view the conclusions made, we will lay the basis for the next round of talks,” Qureshi told reporters here at the mausoleum of Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Pakistan’s founder.

Qureshi also said as soon as the new government was formed in Islamabad, India’s External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee had contacted him on telephone and expressed good wishes.

“Mukherjee also expressed the desire that talks between the two countries, which were stalled for some time due to some reasons, should be resumed,” Qureshi said.

“We are neighbours and we should live with the spirit of accommodation and in an amicable way. This is in the interest of our two countries,” Qureshi explained.

“If we want to improve our ties, this will benefit us,” he said. “Pakistan’s policy will be to promote good relations with all countries but in particular with big powers as well as our immediate neighbours,” he added.