08-09-2005, 07:54 PM
Peace process with India "irreversible": Aziz
August 09, 2005 15:50 IST
Asserting that the peace process with India was "irreversible," Pakistan has said that both countries should make progress on all issues while insisting that improvement in economic matters was linked to political problems, including Kashmir.
"We cannot wish away the Kashmir problem. We are optimistic and committed to the peace process," Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz told reporters on Tuesday onboard his special aircraft, on way to Tokyo.
The peace process is "irreversible" and both countries should make progress on all issues, 'Daily Times' quoted him as saying.
Progress on economic issues was linked to progress on political issues, including Kashmir, he said, adding that Pakistan was a free trade country and had no restrictions in trade except with New Delhi. He said the current talks on commercial and economic cooperation between the two countries were part of the ongoing composite dialogue.
About the Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline, he said there were indications that India was still keen on the project. He claimed that Pakistan firmly believed in non-proliferation of nuclear arms and had conducted the nuclear tests following the detonations by India.
"Pakistan is against proliferation by any country and in fact it was forced to carry out nuclear tests following India's nuclear explosions," he claimed, adding that the country's nuclear programme was under a strict command and control system.
Aziz said his visit to Japan was aimed at increasing bilateral economic cooperation, seeking more market access and projecting Pakistan as a business and investment-friendly destination.
http://ushome.rediff.com/news/2005/aug/09aziz.htm
August 09, 2005 15:50 IST
Asserting that the peace process with India was "irreversible," Pakistan has said that both countries should make progress on all issues while insisting that improvement in economic matters was linked to political problems, including Kashmir.
"We cannot wish away the Kashmir problem. We are optimistic and committed to the peace process," Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz told reporters on Tuesday onboard his special aircraft, on way to Tokyo.
The peace process is "irreversible" and both countries should make progress on all issues, 'Daily Times' quoted him as saying.
Progress on economic issues was linked to progress on political issues, including Kashmir, he said, adding that Pakistan was a free trade country and had no restrictions in trade except with New Delhi. He said the current talks on commercial and economic cooperation between the two countries were part of the ongoing composite dialogue.
About the Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline, he said there were indications that India was still keen on the project. He claimed that Pakistan firmly believed in non-proliferation of nuclear arms and had conducted the nuclear tests following the detonations by India.
"Pakistan is against proliferation by any country and in fact it was forced to carry out nuclear tests following India's nuclear explosions," he claimed, adding that the country's nuclear programme was under a strict command and control system.
Aziz said his visit to Japan was aimed at increasing bilateral economic cooperation, seeking more market access and projecting Pakistan as a business and investment-friendly destination.
http://ushome.rediff.com/news/2005/aug/09aziz.htm