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Even if one accepts that there were drugs on the truck, then the

next question is how does one proceed further? "Do we bring

everything to a halt or find a way out?," Pakistan Foreign Affairs

spokesperson Tasnim Aslam asked.

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ms. Tasnim

Aslam reiterated on Thursday the need to find a way out of the

Line of Control (LoC) trade standoff and said the issue was under

discussion.

Responding to questions at the weekly media briefing, she said

that, "You are well aware that the allegation was that in one of the

trucks, within some edible item, some narcotic drugs were

discovered. The discussions are on and obviously there will be

investigation on that side as well."

She said even if one accepts that there were drugs on the truck,

then the next question is how does one proceed further? "Do we

bring everything to a halt or find a way out? Our view is that if the

driver is handed over who may be innocent and even if there were

drugs on the truck, he may not be aware of it," she said.

If at all it happened, it should not be repeated and for that Pakistan

also needs to conduct investigations on its side, she pointed out. If

there is a possibility that some people other than the driver were

involved, who is in a better position to investigate that? she asked,

adding that the authority is here in Pakistan.

She expressed the hope that a solution would be found and trade

would be resumed soon.

Earlier New Delhi had sought information about Pakistani

investigations to uncover the identity of persons who had sent the

drugs in a consignment of almonds. Ms Aslam said that she was not

aware of India asking for this information but in any case what is

India going to do with that information?, she asked. "How would

they investigate it in Indian Occupied Kashmir? I don't know," she

said.

With regard to reports of the Jammu and Kashmir chief minister

Omar Abdullah saying that Pakistan and India were very close to

resolving the Kashmir issue in 2007, she said she did not know

which agreement or understanding Mr. Abdullah is talking about.

There have been various proposals under discussion between India,

Pakistan and Kashmiris at different times but she was not aware of

any solution that they were very close to achieving.

She said there are UN Security Council resolutions on Kashmir so

legally that is the status. Then there is a consideration for

ameliorating human rights situation. In that context, the meeting

points, bus service and Intra-Kashmir trade are some of the steps

that Pakistan and India took. She hoped these services would

resume at the earliest, so that the people of Kashmir can benefit.

She welcomed the statement from Indian external affairs minister

Salman Khurshid on talks with Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir

issue, and said, "We have always said that Pakistan and India need

to resume the dialogue process and have meaningful, result

oriented discussions on all the disputes and issues particularly

Kashmir."

Keywords: LoC  trade standoff, India-Pakistan trade, Pakistan

Foreign Affairs Ministry, LOC drug case, Tasnim Aslam