Pakistani High Commissioner Sohail Mahmood also underlined what he called the importance of ‘peaceful neighbourhood’.
Sohail Mahmood (Photo: Twitter)
Amid the ongoing Indo-Pak row over the harassment of each other’s officials in respective missions, Pakistan on Friday said it desired peaceful relations with India on the basis of sovereign equality and mutual respect and it was important for the two countries to resolve all outstanding issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, through dialogue.
Peace was in the mutual interest of both countries and it could only be achieved through diplomacy and dialogue, Pakistan High Commissioner to India Sohail Mahmood said after hoisting his country’s flag at a ceremony held at the High Commission to mark Pakistan’s National Day. He also underlined what he called the importance of Pakistan’s vision of ‘peaceful neighbourhood’.
Mahmood also spoke about Pakistan’s ‘achievements’ in deepening democratic culture, accelerating economic development and effectively addressing challenges related to extremism and terrorism through successful anti-terror operations.
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Mahmood, who returned to India on Thursday night from Islamabad, said peace, security and stability in South Asia could only be promoted on the principle of peaceful coexistence.
The Pakistani envoy had been called back to Islamabad last week for urgent consultations in the wake of allegations by both countries that their respective mission officials were being harassed and intimidated by the other side.
The Pakistani media had suggested that Mahmood might not return to New Delhi until the stand-off over the treatment of mission officials was resolved.
The High Commissioner is hosting a reception on Friday evening on the occasion of Pakistan’s National Day for which invitations have been extended to Kashmiri separatists, politicians, intellectuals and journalists.
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