Alerts
 
< >

Pakistan, India make ‘headway’ in Thimphu talks

Published: February 7, 2011

Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao with her counterpart Salman Bashir. PHOTO: FILE

THIMPHU: 

Putting behind the bitter experience of last July, India and Pakistan on Sunday night appeared to have made headway in bringing on track the stalled dialogue process as they agreed to carry it forward to resolve all outstanding issues in a constructive and forward-looking manner, the Press Trust of India (PTI) said.

India had called off a slow-moving peace process with Pakistan, called the composite dialogue, in 2008 after gunmen mounted commando-style attacks on landmarks in India.

According to the PTI, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir, who met in Thimphu for about 90 minutes, agreed that positive and cordial relations were in mutual interest of both the countries and they needed to work in this direction.

This is the first time since July last year that top diplomats of India and Pakistan are meeting to discuss key issues.

A joint press statement issued by both sides said that the two foreign secretaries had met in pursuance of the mandate given by their prime ministers following their meeting in Thimphu in April 2010 and the meeting of the foreign ministers in July last year in Islamabad and carry that process forward. “The foreign secretaries had useful and frank discussions on the steps required to be taken in this context,” Vishnu Prakash, the spokesperson for the ministry of the external affairs, said while reading out the statement to the media.

“They agreed on the need for a constructive dialogue between India and Pakistan to resolve all outstanding issues. They affirmed the need to carry forward the dialogue process,” he said, adding they would now brief their respective governments on their discussions.

During their talks in Thimphu on the sidelines of the SAARC summit last April, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh had agreed that the foreign ministers and foreign secretaries would work to reduce the trust deficit plaguing the relationship.

Sources said Rao and Bashir, who held an informal meeting on Saturday night in the runup to Sunday night’s talks, had agreed that the dialogue process should be carried forward in a forward-looking manner.

At the meeting, the Indian side maintained that it was open to discussing all issues in a conducive atmosphere, they said.

The next milestone after Sunday’s talks will be the visit of Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi to India this year, dates for which will be worked out.

Rao and Bashir said separately that they would endeavour to find a way forward for continued engagement between the two countries.

“We are resuming our contact after an interregnum of some time. We have a number of issues to be discussed. As we have always said, the dialogue between India and Pakistan is necessary and a must if we are to satisfactorily resolve the outstanding issues between our two countries,” Rao said.

“We have a number of outstanding issues. So, we are going into this with an open mind and constructive attitude,” she said.

Bashir, on his part, said that his country is seeking constructive engagement with India. In an interview before the talks, he said the two countries needed to take incremental steps to reach the goals that they have set.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 7th, 2011.

on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook

Reader Comments (48)

  • Syed A. Mateen
    Feb 6, 2011 - 3:38PM

    Talking with India is nothing more than a futile effort.

    It has been going on for more than six decades and God knows better how much more time it will take to settle the issues between Pakistan and India.

    I can only pray that may God give wisdom to Indian government officials to understand that how much time they are wasting to settle the dispute which is unnecessarily prolonging the agony of the poor Indian citizens. Recommend

  • Fact Check
    Feb 6, 2011 - 4:16PM

    Another colossal waste time. Pak will come with Kashmir and human rights violation. Add Samajhuta and need for more information for prosecuting Bombay attackers.

    Code for; we are puppets of the army and the mullahs, we scared to death (literally and figuratively) and agree to meet again in the end at some future date, Pakistan foreign ministry will make bold statements like “our principled foreign policy and support for our Kashmiri brothers” all the while abusing our brothers in PoK.

    End of Story.

    The the story begins by the Pakistan intellectuality in news papers and TV talk shows. Recommend

  • Anoop
    Feb 6, 2011 - 5:25PM

    Having all the cards in the Poker game, India must not hesitate to talk. This is a welcome move.Recommend

  • neel123
    Feb 6, 2011 - 8:10PM

    @ Syed A. Mateen,

    India is not wasting time because it has little to lose due to the delay in Indo-Pak rapprochement, and therefore has no reason to rush.

    Your prayer to GOD goes in the wrong direction. You need to pray to GOD to give wisdom to the Pakistani Army to come out of denial and accept the ground reality.

    There will be talks, and many more talks, but nothing will come out of the talks as long as the Pakistani army remains hopeful of extorting concessions from India.

    It is time you Pakistanis realize that any peace on the basis of Indian concessions on Kashmir or any other issue is not acceptable to the Indians. Pakistan tried all it could in last six decades, therefore it is time for the Pakistani army to grow up and be a man …. or else Pakistan will continue to be consumed in its own fire of hatred …….! Recommend

  • ramin
    Feb 6, 2011 - 9:49PM

    Keep talking till th other party dies of dehydration or exasperation or heart-attack! Recommend

  • kumar
    Feb 6, 2011 - 10:00PM

    India should not talk unless the mumbai blasts are dealt with. Tough, but it must be consistent for credibility. But who knows what the pansy politicians will do?Recommend

  • A.Salma
    Feb 6, 2011 - 10:08PM

    Look at the picture of Nirupama Rao and Salman Bashir !First it was Veena Malik getting friendy with an infidel hindu male to disgrace the “Land of the Pure”. Now a Pakistani male,(Salman Bashir ) let alone a representative of GOP shaking his hand with an infidel hindu female (look at how tightly he holds it, in front of camera, Just like Veena!), thus bringing shame to the “Land Of Pure”
    Where is the mullah and ghairat brigate? Lets get together and burn some tyres! :DRecommend

  • American
    Feb 7, 2011 - 2:01AM

    @Syed A. Mateen:
    You are absolutely right…it is a complete waste of time, as long as Pakistan sticks to terrorism as a strategy to negotiate concessions.
    You haven’t learned any lessons even after 6 decades and 50% of country gone.
    Bill Clinton’s definition of lunacy : “Doing the same thing the same way again and again, and expecting a different result”
    Try a different script… Recommend

  • Sanjay
    Feb 7, 2011 - 7:21AM

    Being neighbours, we have no other choice but to resolve the issues between us by talking..there are no others options availble for sustainable solution. Keeping aside the past expereinces lets keep talking..it may lead to some where. By not talking we tend to lose much more..India’s time and energy will get wasted in handling the borders , trade isues with pakistan..this wastage of energy can be avoided best by talking and resolving the issues. India has nothing to lose in talking to any Govt representetive of Pakistan. As big brother we should show greater flexibility in accomodating the sensitivities of Pakistan’s views, though keeping India’s fundamental soveirgn right on its territories and constitution. India should start with mind state that we are better off than Pakistan in all respects ..so become flexible in accomodating Pakistan in meaningful dialogue and get them into India’s economic development journey..flood Pakistan with our products and services ..import quality stuff from Pakistan ..make Pakistan dependent on India’s market..this will make policy makers and leaders of Pakistan less belligerent towards India, even during any crisis. Lets India unleash its out of box thinking ideas and wrap Pakistan in economic partnership..which is deep and long lasting…! Press on gas now..and go full steam..!Recommend

  • aiyaz buukhari
    Feb 7, 2011 - 8:04AM

    @Syed A. Mateen:

    I agree completely there should be no further talks between India and Pakistan.

    India is nation which is concerned only with its economy, education and welfare and really has no time or intention to engage pakistan.

    We need to read the writing on the wall and initiate talks only with like minded regimes which place religion first and talk about Islam.

    There is no logic in talking to india. no further talks should happen with non-islamic countries, be it india, be it china or the US. Recommend

  • Sonia Jamal
    Feb 7, 2011 - 8:08AM

    @neel123 – Thank god that you @@ Syed A. Mateen, are not the brokers of the India-Pak talks. One has a defeatist attitude & the other has a superiority complex of forcing issues without facts. Both countries have a lot to gain and more to lose for the talks to succeed.
    I as a Pakistani am aware that at this point that it is in the best interest of Pakistan to divert its energy to the economy and safety needs of its citizens than India. Also the flow of visitors to both countries can enhance the technology & other talents both countries possess.
    The problem with Pakistani thinking it that of pride; one can only be proud to an extend and it is not uncharacteristic to request for help in fact if you love your country as many of us do we have to recognize that we can advance as a nation and listen and work out issues from Kashmir to terrorism so far the peace talks is a great start. Recommend

  • Ashraf R
    Feb 7, 2011 - 10:17AM

    How long will it take both sides to realize that there REALLY is no solution to this problem short of converting the LOC into an international border.

    Both parties do not have the people’s mandate to budge from their stated positions. I would be very curious to know what they have on their agenda – if indeed they have one. Perhaps a few CBMs and the much-touted but ineffectual people-to-people contact. While it is fashionable to say things like ‘issues can only be resolved through talks’, there is really little point in that unless ground realities in one or both countries undergo a sea-change. Recommend

  • ashok sai
    Feb 7, 2011 - 10:59AM

    This is kind of talks wont yield a result. Rightnow, an Army has a country called Pakistan,
    Talks should be between Governments, not between Pakistan Army establishment with Indian Government.

    Thumbs Down !!!Recommend

  • kailash sethy
    Feb 7, 2011 - 11:46AM

    @ A Salma
    U r so funny LOL tho there r some points to be noted how schooling is done in Pak to brainwash of hatred within kids about the world and non-muslims and even their own countrymen like Ahmadis..

    Politically nothing much going to change either on Kashmir or 26/11. So there is hardly any hope on improving on relations between the two unless there is some back channel going on like during Musharaf time. Recommend

  • Ahmer Ali
    Feb 7, 2011 - 11:47AM

    Assalam-o-Allaikum Warahmatullah.Once again the two leaders are fooling and deceiving the Kashmiris on the name of fake peace talks in other words holding another photo session.And as usual by playing old games and accusing each others of terrorism,interference and supporting the terrorists.There’s only one solution of Kashmir issue is,id est,free Kashmir as an independent state like the other independent states of the world and accept its sovereignty and allow Kashmiris to decide that with which country they want to affiliate freely without any pressure or want their own separate state.Recommend

  • ashok sai
    Feb 7, 2011 - 12:17PM

    @ Ahmer Ali

    Assalam-o-Allaikum Warahmatullah,

    “free Kashmir as an independent state like the other independent states of the world”

    And call it as EAST AFGHANISTAN ** and shift Osama Bin Laden there and we will start a new Jihad against India.

    No mate, its not 1990s, its 2011, wake up.Recommend

  • Ahmer Ali
    Feb 7, 2011 - 12:57PM

    @Fact Check:
    But you forgot one more fact sheet,id est,as claimed by the Indian leaders that Kashmir is the integral part of India.Recommend

  • Amjid Iqbal
    Feb 7, 2011 - 1:27PM

    After Samjotha Express incidents, indians are on back footed. Pakistan should continously press them about the inquiry of Samjotha Express and demand all those Hindu Extremist and Army personals who were involve in burning innocent Pakistanis.Recommend

  • Javaid
    Feb 7, 2011 - 1:59PM

    @kumar:
    Yes PAK should also not talk untill india reveals Samjhota express hindu terrorists. tit for tatRecommend

  • J Oberoi
    Feb 7, 2011 - 3:20PM

    @Sonia Jamal:
    While I take your comments on board, it is hard to imagine either nation making concessions from their stated position on Kashmir. The people of India do not want a war but they will never agree to giving up one inch of territory in Kashmir. I am sure it is the same in Pakistan. The best we can hope to do is put the issue on the back-burner like India and China have done and proceed to a mutually beneficial economic relationship.
    But with Saeed Hafiz of JuD stating yesterday that Pakistan should use nukes against India to wrest Kashmir, even that is a forlorn hope. You just get the feeling that there may yet be a decisive skirmish before this issue plays itself out. Sad but true.Recommend

  • Wow
    Feb 7, 2011 - 5:44PM

    You Pakistanis always talk of muslim brotherhood in whole world You have got 180 million at home .What justice have you done to them They are going here and there with a begging bowl to get their daily meals India has poverty at home but they are not begging for aid Forget Kashmir as PM has already said boundaries can not change. Pak politicians are using this just to divert attention from local issues for last 60 years Recommend

  • Ali
    Feb 7, 2011 - 5:52PM

    Whats the point reall? The civillians can normally work things out given time and relative stability… but at the moment our army own everything and is the real power in Pak… there won’t ever be peace in Pak (and all her neightbours) until this changes!

    Tho i hve to ommend both countries for keeping the lines of communication open! Real movement in peace can only come when the peoples of the countries get a chance to meet each other and visit each other, as that when attitudes change en masse and quickly!Recommend

  • neel123
    Feb 7, 2011 - 7:50PM

    @Sonia Jamal:

    There are times when you need to eat humble pie in order to save your back. This is what the Pakistani army needs to do to get out of the mess created by its policies of using terrorists as instruments of foreign policy.Recommend

  • usman Baloch
    Feb 7, 2011 - 8:22PM

    @ neel123 and all other who commented

    we the pakistanis knows better what the ways must be adopt to solve the internal matters , and for this sake there is no reason to give the explaination to indians who themselves hampered by the hindu millitancy in the shape of Bal Tahkry leadership. one can’t understand the mentality of indians , why they ask to give up on kashmir issue, ok just suppose for one minute , pakistan left kashmir then what you will do about tamil Nado, Maharashtar, and manymore includes maosts.. india is the only country in the region with conflicts with majority of the countries like with pakistan and now bangladesh ( on water issues and daily firing trade at borders).

    indians themselves rejected the ” cold star doctrine” by your army chief because obviously it was the dream under the day light. so please let your army get the lessons from you and not the pakistani army. Recommend

  • karachiite
    Feb 7, 2011 - 9:03PM

    dont want to sound a pessimist but I see another armed or nearly armed conflict rising soon; ironically whenever the peace process starts and subsequently falls on its backside the two countries are at logger headsRecommend

  • Naveed
    Feb 8, 2011 - 12:45AM

    @ Usman Baloch
    You are absolutely right. This is basically a thrid class nation. Look at the beautiful Leadership, Bal Tharkay, Narendra Moodi ( The RSS Terrorist ), Advani( The Terrorist Behind Moodi). If this nation was worth anything, Muslims and others would not come from outside and rule over them. To me, not more than trash. I’ve no desire to talk to them or visit . Rather I’d advice that Pakistan should close its embassy in India and close their at Islamabad. Recommend

  • Kittu
    Feb 8, 2011 - 3:05AM

    @usman Baloch

    You are neither knowledgable nor dumb. Pls do some research on web on India . It will do you a lot of good..Probably wisen you up a little.

    @Naveed

    You are burden not only for pakistan..but for mankindRecommend

  • Sid
    Feb 8, 2011 - 5:32AM

    @Sonia
    Thanks for saying something in more positive direction than most of us here. But my wish goes further that our leaders have same attitude. It took approximately 1000 years for the savage European countries who use to butcher each other now forming a EU Territory and thriving peacefully. India and Pakistan is just 60 years young, hopefully someday we will have a union and will bring prosperity and peace to region. But should we really fight for the next 100s of years ? If there is no border , will there be fight for land ?

    Peace and long live India and PakistanRecommend

  • Ahmer Ali
    Feb 8, 2011 - 11:43AM

    @ashok sai:
    Highly respected sir here you are wrong because on the name of fake peace talks in other words photo session a lot of time and money have been wasted and a lot of innocent Kashmiris especially women,children and old people have been killed by the Indian brutal forces and always it has been declared by Indian leaders that ISI and Mujahideen are interfering in IHK.Both countries’ leaders are only fooling and deceiving Kashmiris on the name fake peace talks and both countries’ leaders are wasting a lot of money on the purchasing of the most expensive weapons instead of on the nation’s welfare and betterment.Recommend

  • Tony Singh
    Feb 8, 2011 - 6:48PM

    @Sonia Jamal:
    More than pride, its Pakistan Army’s attitude and design towards India, is the crux of problem. They have made fools of people making India the bogeyman. It created so called strategic assets and now do not know what to do with them. The Pakistan Army should realise that this India centric approach will not get them anywhere. All talks are useless till then.Recommend

  • Usman Baloch
    Feb 8, 2011 - 7:10PM

    @ kittu

    Do have you a bit courage to deny the facts of this country called india.? pakistan knows how to move ahead in times of crises and we are committed to make pakistan , a prosperious state.

    we the pakistanis are the true and exact heirs of the world oldest civilization ” the indus civilization ” so we are blessed to be the pakistanis. infact today pakistan represents the 10 thousand years of known histroy and no other state of world can claim like that of pakistan except Iraq and Egypt.

    learn more kittu about india and don’t bother about pakistan , we are here to take it to the climax. Recommend

  • Sonia Jamal
    Feb 8, 2011 - 9:23PM

    @Usman Baloch – According to you Mr. Baloch they transposed the magical world of Disney to be Pakistan. I do not know where you live and where you get your fantasy facts but spare us this ridiculous drama statement….Pakistan knows how to move ahead in times of crises? We have been in crisis mode since are inception…poverty…corruption & now terrorism.
    “We may be we & are the true and exact heirs of the world oldest civilization ” the Indus civilization” ” but we are the cursed not blessed just glance at the situation around you the sadness & hopelessness in the eyes of the people from a nation that has failed them.
    Maybe you have discovered a heaven while the rest of us here in Pakistan are living a hell but we have a long way to be a prosperous state that is about to climax and unlike you I bow my head in accepting constructive criticism from anyone including our brothers & sisters from India. Recommend

  • Ashutosh
    Feb 8, 2011 - 9:37PM

    It is not important where we came from, but is very important to know where are we heading …

    India is in the right direction on all accounts. It should keep on strengthening its defenses both external and internal and keep its focus on development both economic and human resource.

    India can talk to Pakistan if they too want peace, development and prosperity for its people.

    Till then lets have some photo session for record sake and help the media to stay afloat … Recommend

  • Akash
    Feb 9, 2011 - 6:49AM

    @usman.. Mate you are funny ” to take it climax” hahahah.. wish you luck :-) Recommend

  • Tony Singh
    Feb 9, 2011 - 8:41AM

    @Usman Baloch:
    We left you with this heritage and see what a mess you have made of it in 62 yearsRecommend

  • J.Oberoi
    Feb 9, 2011 - 10:07AM

    @Sonia Jamal:
    You hit the nail on the head. The plight of Pakistan is hardly unique in the subcontinent. India too is struggling to provide a good life to its less-privileged citizens. The armed forces of both nations eat up a substantial chunk of the budget which would otherwise have gone towards development. They will ensure that the state of tension remains for their own ends.

    Corruption in both nations is the worst in the world. As a race of people, corruption runs in the genes. Perhaps the only difference is that India is moving in the right direction while Pakistan seems bogged down in religious fervour and terrorism. Peace is the only hope that can transform the plight of the poor. The amount we spend on arming ourselves is not something poor nations can afford.Recommend

  • Manish
    Feb 9, 2011 - 11:05AM

    @Usman Baloch

    Do have you a bit courage to deny the facts of this country called india.? pakistan knows how to move ahead in times of crises and we are committed to make pakistan , a prosperious state.
    Pakistan has been in crisis since its inception and now more than 60 years, don’t give us what you are committed to. Your commitment is out there on the global front and everyone condemns it.

    we the pakistanis are the true and exact heirs of the world oldest civilization ” the indus civilization ” so we are blessed to be the pakistanis. infact today pakistan represents the 10 thousand years of known histroy and no other state of world can claim like that of pakistan except Iraq and Egypt.
    Now this is funny, a country not more than 64 year old and a race not more than 1500 year talks about representing a civilization which is more than 10,000 years. Usman, I’d probably name you Us(eless)man.

    learn more kittu about india and don’t bother about pakistan , we are here to take it to the climax.
    This is for Kittu to comment but Climax is a sex stimulating oil here in India. Recommend

  • vasan
    Feb 9, 2011 - 11:54AM

    Usman Baloch: Thanks for your comments on Tamilnadoo: I am from Tamilnadu and compared to Pakistan, it is heavens here and we are Indians first and Tamilians second (for that matter my mother tongue is telugu, but I am a tamilian). Your comments indicate that you havent gotten out of your sleep and is still dreaming. Recommend

  • Feb 9, 2011 - 2:09PM

    Half the world’s poverty-stricken people are concentrated in South Asia. If we cooperate, we will together create a stronger front against poverty, illiteracy, terrorism and also contribute to improving the lives of millions of our citizens. We were one once. We may not be one again. But there can be peace and harmony between us. Let us make peace and fight poverty together – for us and our children and our coming generations.Recommend

  • Usman Baloch
    Feb 9, 2011 - 5:01PM

    @ sonia and all others who commented

    the most ridiculous matter is that you indians are considering themselves to be the contractors of every sort of change in the region and wants the authorian manner on other nations especially pakistan.

    if pakistan is in crisis now it doesn’t mean that you people come across to discuss pakistan. we the pakistani’s are more committed than indians for pakistan.

    @ manish
    hindus are the generations of Aryans but indus civilization was present before Aryans. so how you can claim to be the heirs of this. the land where pakistan does exists now is worth of more than thousand years. if we got the name of land pakistan in 1947 it does not mean we will refuse to accept the indus civilization.

    if we take any decision to improve it is not because to make the indians happy or are not by your dictation , its because we consider it worth important for us , so mind your own busniess.
    @ vasan
    can you deny the situation in tamil nado , assam, maharashter and kashmir . ?

    @ tonysingh

    how you left this heritage for us while you know that india was never ever a state it was the name of sub continent.. and in current pakistan only punjab province had some association with the hindus or the india ( a sub continent ) not all the other parts .Recommend

  • vasan
    Feb 9, 2011 - 7:38PM

    Usman Baloch: What is the situation on Tamilnadu u are talking about mate. The growth of automobile industry,. software, pharmaceutical and biotech industry,. What do u know about tamilnadu. The only suicide bomb in tamilnadu killed rajiv gandhi way back in 1991. We are as peaceful as a state can be ever since. No terrorism at all. Never there was and never there will be..
    Did u know that ULFA has renounced violence and come to the negotiating table with the central govt of India.
    what do u want to talk about maharashtra. No news about it except the IPL scandals and Sensex movements and adarsh housing society scam. Do u seriously want to know about all these scandals.
    Kashmir problems ofcourse are the results of the handiwork of Pakistan sponcered terrorist mob. Can u deny that?
    Please read about things before starting any debate.Recommend

  • Sonia Jamal
    Feb 9, 2011 - 11:54PM

    Usman Baloch sahib as a Pakistani woman I am so sick & tired of the useless rhetoric spewing from folks like you. The only common bond we probably share is that we both LOVE Pakistan. I think where we originated from is irreverent to the sad state of affairs we are now in.
    I think @J.Oberoi- “Corruption in both nations is the worst in the world. As a race of people, corruption runs in the genes” is probably the most IMPORTANT statement I have read so far.
    Agreed that India is moving forward because unlike Pakistan they do not have the weight of the terrorist ball of terror that weighs them down as we Pakistani have to deal with it on a daily basis. What worries me though is that the younger generation that have studied abroad who know better come back and let the sickness of corruption seep through their blood so the disease is morphed into another generation. Also a very true fact is that the Army in both nations keep the seeds of fear so they can increase their budgets to live the rich life style.
    What has amazed me is that the non violent protesters in Egypt are setting a new trend. This can have a domino affect in all Asian countries where we rid the corrupt government officials who are hell bent on serving themselves not their constituents. Recommend

  • Jason
    Feb 10, 2011 - 12:13AM

    @usman baloch,

    Your knowledge of history is clearly as weak as your intelligence. Indus valley civilization evolved out of Hindu Aryan who settled in the entire subcontinent including what is now Afghanistan and Pakistan. Aryans have been in the subcontinent since at least 3500 BC. Indus valley civilization is dated later about 1500 BC.

    Indians have maintained their lineage from the Aryans. Afghans and pakistanis have been forcibly converted to Islam as an instrument of subjugation and have abandoned their lineage.Recommend

  • Manish
    Feb 10, 2011 - 11:21AM

    @Usman Baloch

    The mature phase of this civilization is known as the Harappan Civilization, as the first of its cities to be unearthed was the one at Harappa, excavated in the 1920s in what was at the time the Punjab province of British India now in Pakistan

    Where was Pakistan on 13th of August 1947????????.Recommend

  • Usman Baloch
    Feb 15, 2011 - 11:41AM

    if you don’t have the history knowledge then don’t indulge yourself in historical debate , indus civilization was present before the arrival of Arryans and the name of the subcontinent was SINDHO, sapta sindho and later on it was changed into hindu, so the religion which you profess got its identity after the arrival of Arryans. and the name of the land was established as hindustan. because majority were hindus. now do you used to deny the culture or the civilization before the arrival of Arryans , which was Dravidians civilization ? of course not. there is no doubt that the hindus were present long before the muslims here in sub continent. but it doesnot mean that muslims will deny the civilization present before its arrival . whether it was hindu culture or non hindu culture , like the land where pakistan is now , it was once the rulling area ( of course not all parts of pakistan ) of Chander Gupt Morea , Ashoka and so on. In the same context we own the civilization of indus , because it was in this land of pakistan, you may ask me why we don’t own or accept the culture or civilization of Ganga Jamna ? because its not in pakistan . we only claim the civilizaiton of the areas of pakistan .

    This land was given the name pakistan , by joining different parts of southern india and different states joined to become pakistan, so do you mean that we got name in 1947, so the land or the civilization got its birth in 1947 ?

    so we proud that our land pakistan was once the oldest and great civilizations of the world. This claim which indians can not forge.

    pakistan is in problems , so its our land and country why you indian bother for it, just bother for yourself . we are determined for its progress not you , and you can only chalk the words. Recommend

  • Bushra Zamir
    Feb 16, 2011 - 12:21AM

    @Usman Baloch pakistan is in problems , so its our land and country why you indian bother for it, just bother for yourself . we are determined for its progress not you , and you can only chalk the words.
    Aren’t these rather harsh words? What have we learned by the what happened in Egypt. They probably can boast of a civilization way beyond your frivolous obsession “oldest and great civilizations of the world” but they did not spend precious time political clout they changed the course of their history.
    Their protest was conducted by the young civil, organized and effective men & women of Egypt.. Lets be frank here, young Pakistani men & women do not have the same strength and motivation to bring their concerns to the streets. Is Pakistan a nation where we scream louder but get no results? In Iran the young demonstrators on the streets are being killed by the mullahs to stifle opposition, where is the outrage from the Muslim world when they see the killing and abuse of young Iranians? The situation in Pakistan may not be so dire, but right now is the time to bring the change that can affect our children & us for generations.Recommend

  • Manish
    Feb 16, 2011 - 10:40AM

    @Usman pakistanis like you represent civilization which is older than the ten thousand year old indus valley civilization, the DINOSAUR CIVILIZATION. I can clearly say you are a descendent and a true representative of the dinosaur clan.Recommend

  • Usman Baloch
    Feb 16, 2011 - 12:59PM

    @manish
    so you rigoriously adopted a way to get rid from the situation which your leaders like Bal tahkray tells you always . it showed your biaseness and low esteem .Recommend

More in Pakistan