LAHORE: Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce
and Industry, SAARC Chamber Pakistan chapter and Lahore Chamber Monday
jointly slamming Indian premier Narendra Modi for declining Nepalese Prime
Minister’s KP Sharma Oli offer for participating SAARC summit in Islamabad
said India’s stubborn stance on SAARC will lead to disrupt process of
making South Asia a global superpower and jeopardize all efforts designed
for achieving durable peace and prosperity in the region.
Vice President Iftikhar Ali Malik after chairing a high level meeting of
trade leaders , giving his reaction to media at the refusal of India for
participating in SAARC summit if Pakistan hosts it, said South Asia cannot
progress in any sphere of life unless the core issues between Pakistan and
India are addressed promptly through a series of result-oriented parlays.
He said India is committing unprecedented atrocities in occupied Kashmir
and using despotic all available state’s resources to stifle the voices of
liberation of Kashmir. He said without solution of Kashmir durable peace is
not possible so Pakistan and India must resolve outstanding economic and
security disputes including the Kashmir issue to fully exploit economic
potential of eight-member SAARC for better future and durable peace in the
region.
Vice President and Regional Chairman, FPCCI Ch Arfan Yousaf said Indian
Prime Minister Narendra Modi should play positive role in reviving the
stalled SAARC Summit process setting aside his prejudice and political
insularity. “War is no solution to disputes and both the countries should
resolve issues through dialogue,” he added. He said India escalated tension
to conceal its brutality in Jammu Kashmir and blamed Pakistan of cross
bordering terrorism.
He urged the leadership of both the countries to resolve issues through
diplomatic channels.He said that SAARC had the potential to become one of
the major global centres of economic power. “For this to happen, South Asia
needs peace, stability and mutual cooperation,” he added.
SVP LCCI, Khawaja Khawar Rashid said Pakistan had offered dialogue to
India for the resolution of the Kashmir issue but the offer was always
rejected, asserting that Pakistan had always been remained committed to
peace and regional cooperation. He said they would continue to work in the
larger interest of the people of this region. However, he reiterated that
to achieve durable peace in South Asia, settlement of the Kashmir dispute
was inevitable.
He said that Pakistan has always been following a policy of maintaining
cordial relations with the member countries of the SAARC forum.“We really
hope that SAARC, which is regional organisation to move forward beyond
the differences that India would be able to come to Pakistan for the summit
because in the end we are neighbours,” he added. He said he is sanguine
about the future of the SAARC as countries like Nepal, Sri Lanka and the
Maldives have already supported for SAARC summit in Islamabad.
VP LCCI Zeshan Khalil said it is an important organisation both for
Pakistan and India. This is not an organisation to settle disputes but it
is exclusively designed to work for the common challenges and for common
development of the region ,” he concluded.
