Issues can be resolved if India, Pakistan have will: Abdul Basit

NEW DELHI: Amid the ongoing tension between the two countries over ceasefire violations, Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit today said his country is committed to improving ties with India and that issues between both the countries could be resolved if they have the "will".

"We hope relations between the two countries will improve and if both sides have the will, then there is no reason our issues such as poverty, illiteracy and disease cannot be resolved," he said after meeting the Imam of Fatehpuri Masjid here on the occasion of Eid.

"Pakistan is always committed to improve ties to resolve the issues," he said.

The Pakistan High Commissioner's comments come amidst heightened tension along the border due to ceasefire violations. India has warned Pakistan of "effective and forceful" response to unprovoked firing and cross-border terrorism.

India and Pakistan are also involved in 'visa war' with both sides accusing each other of not issuing assignment visas to their diplomats and officials.

While India maintained that Pakistan has not issued visas to its 12 officials including to a Naval attache, Pakistan has said it has recently issued several assignment visas to Indian officials but none were issued by India.