MFN status to India: Kashmir committee calls for joint sitting of MoC, FO

The Special Committee of Parliament on Kashmir has prepared recommendations for convening joint sitting of Trade and Foreign Ministries with Kashmiri leadership on the issue granting India Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status for trade. Parliamentary Kashmir Committee met on Saturday in Parliament House, Islamabad, with Fazlur Rahman in the chair.
After the meeting, Fazl, briefing the media, said that the government should take Kashmiri leadership into confidence, and listen to their viewpoint to satisfy them on the issue of granting MFN status to India. He said that Kashmiri leadership has already expressed reservations on granting India MFN status. He also urged India to withdraw its ''''unfinished agenda'''' on issue of Kashmir and resume fresh talks with Pakistan to resolve the decades-long dispute between the two countries.
He said that PPP government should review its Kashmir policy and make efforts for fresh dialogue on Indian-held Kashmir. He said that all outstanding issues between Pakistan and India must be resolved through dialogue, including the core issue of Kashmir. Fazl said: "Concepts of talks, mediation and military strategies should be defined on dialogue table. Kashmir valley can play a role of bridge for endorsing peace between the two South Asian nuclear neighbours". He said that the people from the valley had always safeguarded Pakistan''''s interests and they never wanted the country to sacrifice its interests for its sake.
The JUI-F chief said that all political and religious parties want good relations with India and all issues between the two countries are needed to be addressed through meaningful dialogues. "We support Kashmiris'''' cause, but don''''t support terrorism in the region."
He also criticised Indian Army on violating human rights in war-torn Kashmir valley. The fundamental human rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir are being denied since 1947, he added. He also appreciated the desire of the Kashmiri leadership for their annexation with Pakistan. E Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) leadership and Hurriat Conference leaders also attended the meeting.