Pakistan has said there was an 'improved' atmosphere and increased people-to-people contact between India and Pakistan since the initiation of the peace process in 2004, and currently a 'historic' opportunity exists to resolve the Kashmir issue in a manner acceptable to all.
A stable, conflict-free cooperative relationship between Pakistan and India held the key to durable peace and prosperity in South Asia, Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said addressing academics and students at the Princeton University on Friday.
On allegations of nuclear proliferation by Pakistan, he said Pakistan was not responsible for it. "We were obliged to respond in order to ensure our security by establishing a credible nuclear deterrent," he said.
Pakistan supports nuclear restraint and is opposed to arms race in the region, Aziz was quoted as saying by local daily Dawn. 'However, we cannot accept discrimination, especially with regard to access to civilian technology for nuclear power generation under international safeguards,' he added.
The Pakistan prime minister asserted that cooperation between Pakistan and United States was essential for peace and development in the world as well as in the South Asian region.
'We (Pakistan and US) are involved in a joint struggle against extremism and terrorism, we are committed to forging a better understanding between Islam and the West,' Aziz said.