PoK fully backs trade with India, says Pak Minister

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Lahore, Sept. 18: Pakistan’s Minister for Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan Affairs, Manzoor Wattoo, has said that people of Pak-occupied Kashmir have no objection to trade taking place between Pakistan and India.

Wattoo, who is back in Pakistan after a visit to India, said India’s politicians, public and media were in favour of trade and peaceful relations with Pakistan.

He said the people of Pak-occupied Kashmir are themselves carrying out trade worth Rs 15 to 16 billion with Indian administered Kashmir, reports the Daily Times.

Wattoo said it is because of President Asif Ali Zardari’s vision that Pakistan will establish trade and cultural ties with India, without compromising on its stance on Kashmir.

He emphasised the need for promoting Pak-India ties and moving them in a positive direction. Both countries should forget past irritants and unpleasant incidents for prosperity and well-being of the people, he said.

He further said that no government in Pakistan could ever set aside the issue of Kashmir.

“I told the Indians that there should be a plebiscite in the Indian-held Kashmir because the Kashmir issue could not be resolved without giving the right of self-determination to Kashmiris,” he said.

Wattoo said that Kashmir was a core issue, which needed to be resolved through tri-lateral dialogue, adding that no talks would prove fruitful without taking Kashmiris into confidence. (ANI)