Dialogue not war will resolve our issues, let us talk to resolve Kashmir: Pak army to India

Srinagar: The Pakistan army has invited India to table for dialogue to resolve all the pending issues including the 70 years long pending dispute of Kashmir, the News International reported on Thursday.

Major General Asif Ghafoor, the army's spokesperson, in an interview with a private news channel while inviting India to table said it was India which always escaped from talks. He pointed out that there is history of tense relations between Pakistan and India mainly due to unresolved Kashmir issue.

He reminded India that Pakistan's desire for peace should not be misconstrued as its weakness. "We are a strong state and strong army having capacity and capability to thwart any misadventure," he told ARY news.

Moreover, he said there is election year in India where anti-Pakistan slogans are used in election campaign. "But this does not happen in Pakistan," he said.

To another question, the military spokesman said the Indian prime minister himself admitted that his people also did not believe that their army troops carried out surgical strike in "Azad Kashmir". "Surgical strikes are not carried with claims or mere verbal talk," he said adding how surgical strikes which never happened could be admitted.

To a question about Kulbhushan Jadev, the alleged Indian spy, he said he was awarded death sentence and his mercy appeal is with the army chief. "The case is also with the International Court of Justice and let us see what decision they take," he said.

To another question about threats from India's political and military leadership, the ISPR DG said such threats would serve purpose of deteriorating relations between the two countries and having negative impact on region's peace. "Pakistan always talks about peace and talks, while India talks about war," he said.

To a question about role of Pakistan Army in politics, the military spokesman maintained that the Army wanted to see political leadership in the country. "We have achieved unprecedented successes against terrorism in the country in the last two decades and will not take such a step which can derail country from path to progress, "he said adding that in the last a few years, Pakistan Army had extended more support to the democratic system.

He pointed out that general elections are political process for change in the country saying elections bring change. "How can we have hand in it when we hardly could spare time for our families while fighting against terrorism," he said. About extension in period of military courts which is going to end in March this year, Major General Asif Ghafoor said the final decisions would be taken by the government.