PoK chief says don't link talks with Kashmir

In a major policy shift, the PoK 'Prime Minister' has advised Pakistan government not to link ongoing negotiations with India to resolution of the Kashmir issue, saying this is not the right time as Islamabad's position is "quite weak" due to "internal vulnerabilities".

Raja Farooq Haider suggested that Pakistan should first resolve "small irritants and controversial issues" before finally sorting out the "core issue of Kashmir."

He told The News daily that Pakistan and India should maintain status quo on Kashmir for "some time."

He said he believed that India and Pakistan "should resolve other issues before taking up Kashmir."

He explained that he was giving this advice because he believed "this was not the right time for Pakistan to press for a Kashmir settlement."