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Negative statements won't deter us: Aziz

B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said that recent "negative statements" from India do not deter his country and it will continue to strive for the resolution of all outstanding issues with New Delhi.

He was responding to a question here on Thursday on "some negative statements" made by the Indian leadership, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, against Pakistan in recent days,

Mr. Aziz said he was disappointed but stressed the need to take forward the peace process in the interest of people of the region. "Peace is important for this region and improvement in relations between the countries of the region, including Pakistan and India, will benefit its people."

He said Pakistan desired peace with all its neighbours and wanted to resolve all outstanding disputes with New Delhi including the "core Kashmir dispute" through negotiations. The Kashmir `dispute' had to be resolved in line with the wishes of the Kashmiri people, which will lead to peace in South Asia and benefit the people of both the countries. Answering questions on the latest crackdown on militant outfits Mr. Aziz said Pakistan was moving against terrorism and extremism in its "own national interests' and not under any external pressure. "What steps we are taking or, intend to take, are in the best national interests so that there is security and peace in the country and people have a better environment," he said.

Referring to the recent bomb blasts in Egypt, he said that the media misreported about the involvement of Pakistanis nationals that ultimately proved wrong. Similarly, he said those involved in the London incidents were from different countries including Jamaica, Somalia and their own people.

Asked to comment on the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal's threat to launch a campaign against the Government, he said that in a democratic set-up every party was free to express its opinion. Such campaigns were also launched in the past, he said and added that President Pervez Musharraf and the Government would continue to take steps that were in the best interest of the country and would benefit the people and democracy.

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