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Kashmir issue must be raised at every forum, says Sharif

Islamabad - Pakistan's prime minister says the issue should be discussed not only at international forums, but also at Pakistan-India bilateral forums.

Describing Kashmir as a 'core issue' between Pakistan and India, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has stressed the need for early resolution of the longstanding dispute between the hyphenated but hostile neighbours.
"Kashmir is a core issue, which must be resolved. And in my view the sooner the two countries (Pakistan and India) start working on it, the better it would be for them," he said, while talking to journalists in London. The prime minister arrived in the British capital en route to the United States, where he will attend UN General Assembly's 70th session.
The premier said the issue of Kashmir should be discussed at all levels and forums. "This issue should be discussed not only at international forums, but also at Pakistan-India bilateral forums," he added.
On Afghanistan, he said Pakistan had engaged its western neighbour to ensure peace in the region. "The two countries have agreed not to allow their soils to be used against each other and Pakistan is strictly abiding by this commitment."
The prime minister also referred to a recent telephone call by Ashraf Ghani and said the Afghan president condemned the recent attack on the PAF base camp in Peshawar and expressed his condolences over the loss of precious lives.
He said Pakistan has adopted a mature policy and is handling its affairs wisely to ensure peace and stability in the region.
"Pakistan and Afghanistan after the election of President Ghani have made a new beginning to ensure peace in the region as the Afghan president visited Pakistan and I visited Kabul." Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi have also been reportedly confirmed to stay in the same hotel in New York as speculation grows on whether the two leaders will meet when they arrive in the city for the landmark 70th UN General Assembly session this week.
According to reports, Narendra Modi who arrives on Wednesday evening, will stay at the iconic Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Sharif will also stay in the same hotel when he reaches New York on the evening of September 25. There has been no official announcement about any meeting yet.
Earlier, the United States had said that Pakistan and India prime minsters should decide on the time and place for their meeting as the respective leaders head toward New York to attend the UN General Assembly session raising possibility of a meeting.
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