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Ajit Jain India Abroad Correspondent in Toronto
Though belatedly, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Manley on Friday welcomed the decision by India and Pakistan to begin discussions aimed at resolving their long-standing bilateral disputes, including settlement of the Kashmir issue.
In a press release from his office in Ottawa, Manley said: "Canada welcomes efforts by both parties to defuse tensions and to resolve bilateral disputes peacefully. The decision by the Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf to meet is an important step in the right direction. Canada urges both countries to move forward with this dialogue in a spirit of co-operation and goodwill."
Vajpayee and Musharraf are scheduled to hold talks when the Pakistani leader visits India from July 14 to 16.
"The recent détente between India and Pakistan is very encouraging," said Dr Rey Pagtakhan, secretary of state for Asia-Pacific. "Canada welcomes the fact that both countries are willing to engage in dialogue on difficult issues. We also commend both sides for continuing to show restraint along the Line of Control."
In a recent interview, James Junke, director of South Asia in the Department of Foreign Affairs, said: "We welcome this summit. We welcome this development as India-Pakistan relations are critical to bilateral ties between New Delhi and Ottawa."
He suggested India and Pakistan "have to resolve their disagreements through ongoing dialogues as it is not for us to say what the solutions are. We simply say dialogues are important, whether on Kashmir or any bilateral issue."
Both India and Pakistan claim sovereignty over the entire Kashmir region and have fought two wars over the area, which is currently divided by a Line of Control.
"Canada supports a peacefully negotiated solution to the dispute that would take into account the interests of the Kashmiri people, improve human rights in the region and end all acts of terrorism," said Indo-Canadian Sanjeev Chowdhury, press secretary to Manley.
Indo-Pak Summit: The Compelete Coverage
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