All political parties in Pakistan are in favour of peace talks with India. This was said by former foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri on Wednesday, said a press release issued by the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS) here on Wednesday.
“Not a single political party of Pakistan is against the peace process with India,” Kasuri said at a roundtable discussion organised by the institute.
According to Kasuri, the domestic socio-economic compulsions of both India and Pakistan have made them keen on improving their relations with one another.
“India cannot become a global power if it does not resolve its issues with Pakistan,” said Kasuri. He appreciated Pakistan’s decision, in principle, to grant the most-favoured nation status to India, but added that India also needs to remove the non-tariff barriers that the Pakistani exporters are facing.
He said that contrary to the general perception in the west, the army also supports the peace process. He added, however, that the approach of the military toward India has relatively hardened over the past few years because of excessive Indian involvement in Afghanistan.
According to Kasuri, the aspirations of the Kashmiris need to be considered for the resolution of the Kashmir issue. The first two things that the Kashmiris want are withdrawal of the Indian troops from the valley and a reversal of the efforts on the part of the Indian government to reduce it to a normal state under its constitution. He argued for a step-by-step approach for the resolution of the Kashmir dispute in view of the short and long-term aspirations of the Kashmiris.
IRS Senior Research Analyst Dr Shaheen Akhtar maintained that while Kashmiris and Indians are eager to see an improvement in relations with Pakistan, they are deterred by the political instability here.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 12th, 2012.
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“India cannot become a global power if it does not resolve its issues with Pakistan,” Pakistan will never be allowed to have a veto on anything pertaining to India, no matter what the cost! We will never let you profit! @Disappointed...: "Kashmiris themselves will sort out the Indians, just like Tunisia and Egypt." You are right. You are Disappointed and you shall forever remain Disappointed! If Kashmiris had been simmering, would Kashmir have had a record tourist season? You are not only Disappointed, you are Irrational, too. Stop seeing mirages although we know you can't help doing so!
@Disappointed...: I know you are really disappointed by India's progress & democracy. If India can move along with Kashmir for 63 years it can do that for another 630years
This is a welcome statement from the former FM. Pakistan would be the biggest benficiary if it makes peace with India since there would be less spending on its defence and more on economy which is in a very bad shape.
@All of the above Yea keep being delusional and carry on the ostrich policy of sticking your necks into the ground. Kashmiris themselves will sort out the Indians, just like Tunisia and Egypt. If the riots of summer 2010 are any indication, Kashmiris are simmering, and the place is like a ticking time bomb. You can only for so long maintain artificial peace by running a military state under the military AFSPA law.
Sir, first bring your military under civilians control, then we talk about piece.
Mr.Kasuri , we have made up our mind to become a global power without help of pakistan .
It is always what Pakistan wants, be it peace, Kashmir or war. India has just to respond to Pakistani demands. Peace will fall in place if Pakistan stops sending terrorists into India. Therefore the ball is always in Pakistan's court. If Pakistan wants peace, please become peaceful. India has learned to live with you in both peace and war. Stop dreaming of Ghazwa-e-Hind. Tam the likes of Zaid Hamid and Jamat-u-Dawa chiefs.