Pakistan formally invites India for talks on Kashmir

Pakistan has formally invited India for high level talks on the Kashmir dispute, the Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

India suspended bilateral dialogue with Pakistan after gunmen attacked an Indian air base at Pathankot in January. India had blamed the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Muhammad group for the attack.

"The Foreign Secretary called in the Indian High Commissioner this afternoon and handed over a letter addressed to his Indian counterpart, inviting him to visit Pakistan for talks on Jammu and Kashmir dispute that has been the main bone of contention between India and Pakistan,"a Foreign Ministry statement said.

India has not yet responded to Pakistan's new proposal.

"The letter highlights the international obligation of both the countries, India and Pakistan, to resolve the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions,"a Pakistani statement said.

Pakistan and India have fought three wars, two over Kashmir, since their independence in 1947.

Relationship between Pakistan and India are tense over Islamabad's severe criticism at the spike in violence in the Indian-controlled Kashmir. Dozens of people have been killed in clashes with the security forces since last month's killing of a Hizb-ul-Mujahideen commander. Endit