Saudi Arabia has stressed the need for dialogue between India and Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir issue.
The long-standing Kashmir issue found a mention in the joint statement issued following a meeting between Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Riyadh.
“The two sides stressed the importance of dialogue between Pakistan and India to resolve the outstanding issues between the two countries, (especially Kashmir dispute) to ensure peace and stability in the region,” it said.
The ties between India and Pakistan, which had always been controversial, had deteriorated further following the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and the bifurcation of the state into two union territories in August 2019.
Earlier in 2022, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had said that he desires peaceful relations with India based on the principles of “equity, justice and mutual respect” and the resolution of the Kashmir issue.
The Himalayan region Kashmir is divided between India, Pakistan and China and is claimed by both India and Pakistan in its entirety, while China claims a smaller portion called Aksai Chin.
India controls the largest portion including the Kashmir Valley, Jammu region, and Ladakh region.
Pakistan controls two distinct regions including ‘Azad’ Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan.
China controls a smaller portion known as Aksai Chin, which is located in the easternmost part of the region. Aksai Chin is administered as part of the Uyghur Region.