ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday said there was no change in its stance on the Jammu and Kashmir issue and pointed that being the oldest issue on the agenda of the United Nations the dispute needs to be addressed.

Foreign Office Spokesman Nafees Zakaria told reporters at the weekly press briefing, Pakistan welcomes the recognition by the United States of America that Kashmir was a dispute.

He said the Kashmiris were struggling for their right of self determination. The spokesman said Pakistan would continue to extend moral political and diplomatic support to the Kashmiris till the implementation of the UN resolutions.

He said the issue would be taken up whenever the two countries hold talks. The spokesman said initiatives have been taken for Confidence Building at the leadership level between the two countries, adding that levelling of allegations were of no help to lowering tensions between the two countries.

Zakaria said Pakistan, China, Afghanistan and the United States were part of the Quadrilateral Coordination Group for dialogue between the Afghan Government and the Taliban and added it was the collective responsibility of all the stakeholders to bring the Taliban to the negotiating table.

He said it was the only way for an Afghan led and an Afghan owned Peace and Reconciliation Process.

He said Pakistan has offered the venue for the talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban groups but date has not been finalized yet.

The spokesman said Pakistan will always remain at the forefront to counter terrorism. He termed terrorism not only a menace for Pakistan but also a big concern for all the regions and the world at large.





