Pakistan looking to approach Trump over Kashmir

Islamabad [Pakistan], Nov. 11 : Following Donald Trump's sensational victory in the U.S Presidential polls, Pakistan has expressed hope that the President-elect will play a more proactive role in addressing the root causes of tensions in the sub-continent such as the longstanding Kashmir dispute.

In a first detailed reaction to the Republican candidate's victory, Pakistan has also hoped its relations with the United States would strengthen further under the new administration headed by Trump "It will remain our endeavour to promote and strengthen this relationship further and also to work closely on areas of common interest with the new administration," Foreign Office Spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said here at his news briefing, reports the Express Tribune.

He further said that Trump during his election campaign had said that he would like to play the role of a "mediator or arbitrator between India and Pakistan".

When asked whether Pakistan would take up the "human rights violations" in Kashmir with the new US administration, the spokesperson said Pakistan would continue its efforts to sensitise the Trump administration.

Further asserting that Islamabad's relation with Washington D.C. is longstanding and decades old, Zakaria said that the political change in the US has come about through a democratic process, which is being followed there for a very long time.

The spokesman added that Pakistan had always maintained very close relations and bilateral cooperation with the US.

"There are numerous areas where both countries have convergence of interests and have worked in partnership on several issues.

We look forward to closely working with the new administration in pursuit of our common ideals of freedom, democracy and prosperity," he stressed.

Meanwhile, Zakaria confirmed that six out of eight staff members of India's High Commission, who were identified as alleged spies were withdrawn by New Delhi.

Source: ANI