India biggest threat to Pakistan, not terrorism: Sartaj Aziz

WASHINGTON (Staff Report) - Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Special Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz has said that menace of terrorism is not biggest threat to Pakistan's security but India's increasing strategic and conventional imbalance in the South Asian region is real challenge.

Addressing at a ceremony in Washington, Sartaj Aziz went on to say that terrorism was an internal matter of Pakistan and it would be soon resolved. Terrorism was a shared threat to Pakistan and Afghanistan and the two countries were taking steps to eradicate it, he further added.

He said that Pakistan has strongly rejected the American demand to cut short the nuclear stockpile of Pakistan as it considers India a serious threat.

Earlier a joint statement after the 6th round of ministerial level Pakistan-US strategic dialogue in Washington, said that both countries have agreed to further strengthen the long term partnership between the two countries.

Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz had led Pakistani delegation while Secretary of State John Kerry the United States, where they reaffirmed their shared commitment to expand and deepen bilateral trade, investment and environmental cooperation.

Both sides agreed that a strong, prosperous, and democratic Pakistan is an essential partner for the United States in advancing these shared goals.

The two sides reaffirmed the importance of the Strategic Dialogue, which provides vision and direction for this bilateral partnership.

They also agreed that the modernization of Pakistan’s economy through better technology, improved business climate and opportunities for women will drive the country’s economic growth.

Sartaj Aziz reiterated Prime Minster Nawaz Sharif’s commitment to expanding opportunities for girls.

The two sides also reviewed the progress of their energy cooperation in the ministerial level meetings. They agreed on holding Pak-India talks on all important issues including Kashmir.