New Delhi, June 9 (ANI): Asserting that Islamabad has done more than enough to curb breeding of militancy from it's soil, Pakistan High Commissioner to India, Shahid Malik, has said that his country condemns all forms of terrorism.
"Yes, we have done more than what we feel that we should be doing, we have gone out of our way in trying to convince the international community and our friends that we being the victims of terrorism in Pakistan it is in our interest, no body should be more keen than Pakistan to see that terrorism wherever it takes place is condemned strongly by Pakistan," Malik told Asian News International (ANI) in an exclusive interview here on Friday.
"So, Pakistan has done enough if you look at the past few years what Pakistan has done in the context of curbing terrorism or the steps that Pakistan has taken, I think we have really been very sincerely sincere about it," he added.
Speaking over the issue of visa agreement with India Malik clarified that there was no delay from Pakistan and hoped that the accord soon sees the light of the day.
"The officials in Pakistan and in India have already agreed to the various provisions of the visa agreement that is also being accepted by the government of Pakistan whatever was presented to the political leadership," said Malik.
"It is only a matter of time our Interior Minister also made the same point to the visiting Home Secretary of Pakistan. So rest assured it is also in our interest, it is also our desire, that the visa agreement is signed and implemented as soon as possible," he added.
Visa agreement between India and Pakistan would further boost trade and commerce between the two Asian countries.
Malik also commented over Pakistan's demand of reduction of troops by India in the Siachen glacier region.
"Expectations of course are there, we would like that the matter is resolved as early as possible, we have made certain proposals over the past so many years and we are hopeful that the Indian team or delegation would examine those and get back to us. Hopefully we will be able to resolve this long-standing dispute," he said.
The Indian Cabinet Committee on Security on Thursday cleared the agenda for talks with Pakistan on Siachen ahead of Defence Secretary-level talks to be held in Islamabad on 11th and 12th of this month.
India and Pakistan, which have held several rounds of talks to resolve the Siachen issue, were close to an agreement a few years back on demilitarising the region. But it failed to fructify, as Islamabad refused to authenticate the current military positions of the two sides despite New Delhi pressing for it.
The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, had earlier during a visit to Siachen in 2005 said that the two nations should work to convert the highest battlefield into a mountain of peace.
Meanwhile, Malik also commented over Kashmir stating that the issue still holds top priority amongst all agendas for dialogue between the two nations.
"As far as we are concerned this is the central, the core issue for Pakistan and discussions are taking place. It is not to suggest that the two sides are not talking about Kashmir. Soon the Foreign Secretaries of the two countries will be meeting as part of the resumed dialogue process and as you know among the eight segments one exclusively deals with Kashmir," said Malik.
"So, when the Foreign Secretaries meet they will be discussing Kashmir it will be discussed, there is no question of the issue being put on the back burner," he added. (ANI)
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