• Source:JND

Pakistani Premier Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi ruler Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday held a meeting at Al-Safa Palace in Mecca to discuss a plethora of issue, including contention between India and Pakistan on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. Both the leaders underlined the importance of dialogue between Pakistan and India to resolve their ‘outstanding issues’, including that of JK, news agency PTI reported. In a joint statement, both the leaders stressed on building a strong relationship between Saudi and Pakistan and exploring new possibility of collaboration across various sectors.

India has long been maintaining that Kashmir issue was a bilateral one and no third party was required to resolve it. However, Pakistan has been, at regular intervals, raising this at several platforms.

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“The two sides stressed the importance of dialogue between Pakistan and India to resolve the outstanding issues between the two countries, especially the Jammu and Kashmir dispute to ensure peace and stability in the region,” PTI reported citing the statement.

The relation between India and Pakistan has always been full of bitterness, prominently due to Kashmir issue. The situation got further tensed after India abrogated Article 370 of the constitution. In a swift reaction, Pakistan downgraded diplomatic ties and expelled the Indian envoy.

INDIA lambasted Pakistan for raising the issue of Kashmir at a Security Council debate on women, peace, and security.

Pakistan also raised the Kashmir issue at UNSC, to which India strongly reacted in conveying that the region “was, is and shall forever” remain an integral part of the country. Besides, India strongly rebuked Pakistan for promoting terror in the Indian territory. Also India categorically conveyed ties with Pakistan will be normal only when it stops infiltrating terror in its territory.

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Shehbaz Sharif became Prime Minister of Pakistan after a PML(N) and PPP formed an alliance owing to a fractured mandate in the recently concluded election.