Islamabad, Aug 16: Sensing the mood in Kashmir, which is on the boil, Pakistan Prime Minister, Yousuf Raza Gilani, has asked India to resolve the long-pending issue to pave the way for peace and stability in the region.
Speaking to the media Monday, he also expressed grave concern over the deteriorating human rights condition in troubled valley, which has seen an upsurge of violence, resulting in the death of more than 50 people in the past two months.
Underlining the need for a peaceful, negotiated settlement to the burning issue, Gilani said, “We demand of India to end human rights excesses in the Kashmir and move towards a just resolution of the Kashmir issue in accordance with aspirations of its people.”
The two South Asian neighbours had held a  foreign minister-level meeting in Islamabad last month to discuss a host of thorny issues. But the talks ended inconclusively, as the two sides kept holding on to varied views on the most vexing issues.
The only positive thing to come out of the meeting was Pakistani Foreign Minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, accepting his Indian counterpart, SM Krishna’s, invitation to come to New Delhi. The moment the Indian contingent boarded the flight back home, a war of words started with Qureshi questioning New Delhi’s seriousness about holding concrete and fruitful talks.
In a related development, Pakistan is said to be reviewing India’s offer of assistance for its flood-affected areas. New Delhi had offered a $5 million humanitarian assistance to Islamabad for millions of flood-affected people. Reports appearing in Pakistani newspapers suggested Monday said the government would take a final decision “soon”.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 16 Aug 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 16 Aug 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 17 Aug 2010 00:00:00 IST