India-Pakistan leadership determined to continue dialogue process: Abdul Basit

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On Friday evening, New Delhi: Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit said the leadership of India and Pakistan is “determined” to pursue the peace process. However, Islamabad still awaits New Delhi’s response on resuming Foreign Secretary-level talks.

Interacting with members of the All India Muslim Majlis Mushwarat, an apex body of various Muslim groups at Abul Fazal Enclave, the high commissioner said that despite the terror attack on the airbase in Pathankot, communication links between the two countries did not get snapped.

“There is a need to work together to carry forward the peace process so that the South Asian region is rid of terrorism, hunger, and poverty,” he said.

Basit’s statement on Friday comes after he stated that the “peace process is suspended,” which the Pakistan foreign ministry contradicted on the same day.

On Friday, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup said at a briefing that “talks with Pakistan are not suspended.”

Earlier, Basit was welcomed by Mushawarat Chief Navid Hamid, Secretary-General Mujtaba Farooqi, and other members.

Basit said it is strange that SAARC had not achieved the desired goal of regional cooperation like other regional blocs in the world due to various disputes among the member countries. “It is time for us to resolve these issues amicably and peacefully,” he said.

He added that the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif to this end “are highly laudable.”

Referring to the condition of minorities in Pakistan, the envoy claimed that they are not facing any discrimination or victimization.

India-Pakistan leadership determined to continue dialogue process: Abdul Basit 1

Pakistan faces more sectarian violence and clashes than attacks on minorities, he said.

The high commissioner said that adequate representation is given to minorities in legislative assemblies and the national community. He acknowledged that the Blasphemy Law is “misused” by some forces. However, he said that more Muslims were held guilty under this law than non-Muslims.

He said that there is only three percent of minorities in the country. “A bogey has been raised that at the time of the creation of Pakistan, there were more than 23 percent minorities, and now only three percent. No one understands the fact that a bulk percentage of minorities were living in East Pakistan, now Bangladesh,” he said.

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He praised the progress achieved by Muslims in all fields in India. He also mentioned the role of Indian religious leaders and others in their secular approach.

Basit said that “some elements are trying to malign Islam for their vested interests.”

“We need to work together for unity among Muslims who are divided today based on sect, ideology, and region.”

He said that India is the second-largest Muslim nation in the world. The country’s secular and democratic system enables them to get opportunities in the nation’s development.

The high commissioner said that Pakistan has also made strides in various fields.

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Adrian J. Elliott
Thinker. Tv geek. Infuriatingly humble beer fanatic. Social media trailblazer. Explorer. Spent college summers developing strategies for junk bonds in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Had moderate success researching rocking horses in Nigeria. Prior to my current job I was investing in Mr. Potato Heads in Minneapolis, MN. Spent 2002-2008 working on toy trucks worldwide. Developed several new methods for developing the elderly in Prescott, AZ. Have some experience writing about human hair for farmers.