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ISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Amir Maulana Fazlur Rahman said on Wednesday that increasing trade volume between India and Pakistan was in the interest of both countries, but it should follow, and not precede, an initiative to resolve the Kashmir dispute.
Maulana Fazl, who is also chairman of the special parliamentary committee on Kashmir, met Indian High Commissioner Sharat Sabharwal and discussed with him prospects for dialogue between Pakistan and India on various issues, including the Kashmir dispute and trade.
Mr Sabharwal said India had reversed its earlier stand of blocking the EU trade package for Pakistan at the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
The JUI-F chief said good relations with all neighbouring countries were cornerstone of his party’s as well as Pakistan’s foreign policy.
“But our foremost priority was our national prestige and security and we will never support any proposal which hurts our integrity.”
Talking to reporters, Maulana Fazl said the Foreign Office was a big hurdle in the way of holding the proposed Kashmir conference.
“We can hold the meeting without them (Foreign Office), but we also know that such an exercise will have no effect. We want to take all institutions on board, but insensitivity shown by the Foreign Office is not understandable,” he added.
