Pakistani PM: India invited to peaceful dialogue on Kashmir

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday invited the Indian government to a peaceful dialogue to resolve the Kashmir issue, according to an official press release here on Wednesday.Nawaz, while addressing a joint session of the Azad Kashmir Legislative Assembly and Kashmir Council on Kashmir Solidarity Day, said that his government was ready to consider any proposal for the establishment of peace.He said, "we are ready to discuss and resolve all outstanding issues with India, including the Kashmir dispute." Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent that includes the Indian-administered state of Jammu and Kashmir that has been a major dispute between India and Pakistan for the last 67 years.It also includes Pakistan-administered territories of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, and the Chinese-administered regions of Aksai Chin and the Trans-Karakoram Tract."The future of Pakistan and Kashmir is linked with each other. Uncertainty and confrontation will continue in the region till peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue casting negative impacts on regional development and stability," he said.He expressed his hopes that India would realize the sensitivity of the matter, respond positively to Pakistan's invitation for a peaceful dialogue and let the people of Kashmir decide their own fate.In accordance with the observance of Kashmir Solidarity Day across Pakistan, he said, "this day brings pride to thousands of Kashmiris, who have rendered sacrifices for the independence of Kashmir. Today, we also pledge not to squander the sacrifices of those freedom fighters."