Pakistan says it welcomes US, global support to resolve Kashmir issue

Pakistan on Friday expressed its willingness to accept assistance from the United States or any other country in resolving the long-standing Kashmir dispute. Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan made the statement during his weekly media briefing while responding to a question on Washington’s interest in the matter.

“Regarding the US’ interest in resolving the Kashmir dispute, we welcome help not just from the United States but from any nation that can help stabilise the situation and move towards a peaceful resolution. The Kashmir issue lies at the core of peace and security in South Asia,” Khan said.

The remarks come against the backdrop of India’s firm stance against third-party involvement. New Delhi insists on addressing all issues with Islamabad bilaterally, as outlined in the 1972 Simla Agreement, which explicitly rules out external mediation.

Responding to queries about possible engagements between the two neighbours following their brief four-day conflict in May, Khan clarified there had been no such dialogue.

“We welcome the US’ interest in working with both sides, but our diplomatic approach remains clear—we prefer the path of diplomacy. It is now up to the Indian side to decide. So far, there have been no contacts beyond routine diplomatic communication,” he said.

India has reiterated that talks with Pakistan would be limited to issues concerning Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and terrorism.

Addressing the security situation in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, Khan said Pakistan has repeatedly raised concerns over terrorism originating from Afghanistan. He stressed that such threats continue to affect regional stability.

He also dismissed speculation regarding a secret agreement with the US for mineral extraction. “There is no question of compromising Pakistan’s national interests. Foreign investments are invited through transparent mechanisms,” he clarified.

Khan rejected as “baseless” the claims of Pakistani nationals being involved in the Ukraine conflict. He added that Islamabad has not received any formal communication from Ukrainian authorities regarding the matter.

Pakistan’s renewed openness to international mediation on Kashmir is expected to draw strong reactions from India, which remains steadfast on bilateral engagement as the only way forward.

– Ends

With inputs from PTI

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