India, Pak. alone can settle their issues: France

ISLAMABAD, JUNE 14. France today said India and Pakistan alone could settle all bilateral issues, including the Kashmir, in accordance with the Simla and Lahore agreements and declared that any third party could not ``contribute anything as mediator'' except motivate the two countries for a dialogue.

``The Kashmir issue and other differences should be settled in the light of Simla and Lahore agreements between the two countries,'' the French Assistant Secretary of Foreign Ministry for Asia, Mr. Dominique Girard, told presspersons here.

He said ``the international community could contribute only towards confidence building whereas New Delhi and Islamabad alone can find the way to settle their disputes including Kashmir''.

To a question on sanctions imposed against Pakistan after the May 1998 nuclear tests, the French official said ``we are not in favour of pushing Pakistan into isolation through sanctions as this is not any service to humanity. But France wants Pakistan to sign the CTBT as it is in Pakistan's favour,'' he said.

He also sought an immediate restoration of democracy in Pakistan.

- PTI

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