US continues to push for dialogue between India-Pakistan

Senator John McCain, who is leading a US Congressional delegation to Islamabad, reiterated Washington's stand that dialogue is a prerequisite for India and Pakistan to solve the Kashmir issue.

The delegation met Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and discussed bilateral issues, including terrorism, Pakistan's relations with India and Afghanistan and regional peace, reports Dawn.

"Kashmir problem should be resolved in a peaceful way through negotiations," McCain said, adding that the U.S. has not changed its stand regarding the Kashmir issue.

Both sides also came to the agreement that U.S. and Pakistan need to forge closer cooperation in confronting the peace and security challenges in the region and beyond.

Aziz conveyed to the US delegation about Pakistan's success against terrorism through Operations Zarb-i-Azb and Raddul Fasaad, asserting that the terrorist networks had been dismantled, their sanctuaries eliminated under the overarching National Action Plan.

He further stressed that Pakistan was also ready to strengthen its ties with the US to counter new terrorist threats, including the threat of ISIS in the region.

Earlier, after the United States declared Hizbul Mujahideen militant Syed Salahuddin as a global terrorist, Pakistan has said it would continue to extend political, diplomatic and moral support to Kashmiri separatists for what it called their struggle for their right to self-determination and for the peaceful settlement of the Kashmir dispute as per the UN Security Council resolutions.

Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said that "the designation of individuals supporting the Kashmiri right to self-determination as terrorists is completely unjustified".

Islamabad also accused the United States of singing to India's tune and asserted that there would never be any compromise on rights of Kashmiris and Pakistan would continue to support their cause 'till realisation of the right of self-determination in accordance with UN resolutions'.

-ANI