Oscar Fernandes says, India, Pakistan should resolve issues through diplomatic channels

Dubbing the sentence handed out by Pakistan military court to Indian citizen Kulbhushan Jadhav as 'sad', Congress leader Oscar Fernandes on Thursday called on the two Asian neighbors to resolve issues through diplomatic channels. 

Fernandes told ANI, 'It is a very sad thing that they have handed out a death sentence to an Indian citizen. If you want to improve the ties between the two nations then I think the only way to resolve the issue is through diplomatic channels.'

Describing Pakistan as a peace-loving country, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had earlier this week said that Islamabad has always maintained a policy of having friendly relations with other countries, particularly its neighbors.

Sharif was addressing a passing out parade of cadets at Asghar Khan PAF Academy in Risalpur on Tuesday, reports Radio Pakistan. Expressing satisfaction over the success of Operation Zarb-e-Azb against terrorism, Sharif said it has brought about a tremendous improvement in the internal security environment.

Sharif's statement came hours after India's External Affairs Sushma Swaraj warned Islamabad not to go ahead with the death sentence, which New Delhi would see as an act of 'pre-mediated murder'.

-ANI