File photo of Indian Minister Sabharwal Sharat addressing the ceremony in Karachi. PHOTO: IRFAN ALI/EXPRESS/FILE
“Peace between India and Pakistan is in favour of both the countries,” he said, while addressing the media on the occasion of India’s Republic Day.
Sabharwal said India wants good relations with Pakistan and vowed that a peaceful, democratic and stable Pakistan was in the interest of his country.
The high commissioner said that the ceasefire on the LoC was a good and welcoming step, and added that things were now heading towards settlement.
Referring to Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid’s statements, Sabharwal said that the peace process between Islamabad and New Delhi had not been derailed and no irreversible damage had been made to the process.
Sabharwal further clarified that reports on the Indian government sending the Pakistan hockey players back were a “misconception”, insisting that it was the sole decision of the event’s organisers.
Replying to a question, he said all investigation and information regarding the ceasefire violation was shared between the two countries at various levels.
Speaking at the occasion, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said that while “ups and downs” in the countries’ ties were common, he was optimistic that the dialogue process would continue.
The minister noted that despite recent clashes, Pakistan did not suspend its visa service for senior citizens.
Malik congratulated India on its independence day and went on to advise the Indian government to provide security to Bollywood super star Shahrukh Khan.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 29th, 2013.
COMMENTS (8)
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@SKChadha: @ashu: @rp: @Gratgy: Kashmir has never been the integral part of India and India has forcibly occupied Kashmir but Indians never want to realise this reality and whenevr Kashmir is discussed Indians discuss on Balochistan and Gilgit Baltistan and never forget Indians that no resolition of Kashmir issue no any comradeship between Pakistan and India.You leave Kashmir and we leave Kashmir then declare both sides of Kashmir as an independent and sovereign Kashmir.That's all Indians whereas India is violating UNO's resolutions regarding Kashmir not Pakistan because Pandit Jawahir Laal Nehru said in his speech at UNO that Kashmiri people shall decide themselves that either they want to live with India or Pakistan of want their separate state.Indians give them their basic plabiscit right and Kashmir issue is resolved other wise wait for another options for Kashmir's freedom.....
@Clear Black Bag: Brother, the only solution for Kashmir problem, from India's point of view, is that Pakistan should vacate POK and Gilgit Baltistan area of the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir immediately. This will resolve the bone of contention, burning, core, long standing and long awaited Kashmir issue.
@clear black bag. Kashmir belongs to India and India alone. Do not expect India to change this stand even after a 1000 years. So just back-off and mend your ways or else Pakistan will be a part of history soon.
Kashmir is non issue talk about Balochiastan
@Clear Black Flag
If Indian PM says it cannot be business as usual, then you have a problem. If the high comissioner says Dialogue process has not been derailed, then also you have a problem.
Quit Whining and withdraw your army first from Azad Kashmir as per the precondision set by the UN resolution and then we will talk.
All Indians want peace with Pakistan, provided you stick to your side of the fence
India and Indians are not interested in making peace or forging a friendship. They want dominance and hegemony. Simply reading the comments that Indians write on this website is proof enough of their lack of any sincerity or desire for improved relations. We should stop wasting our time on this pointless endeavour.
No fake comments of the ET editorial???
India's dual-faced,double-standard and hypocritical peace keeping policy about/for/with Pakistan is absolutely and no-doubt abstruse and esoteric because on one hand India's army's,air's chiefs and president threaten Pakistan for severe consequences and on the other hand India wants doesn't want to derail peace process and talks with Pakistan and claims that "Peace between India and Pakistan is in favour of both the countries" and whereas most of the Indians falsely and untruly believe that peace is in favor of Pakistan and India ain't ready and prepared mentally to resolve the bone of contention,burning,core,long-standing and long-awaited Kashmir issue,and as usual claims falsely and untruly that Kashmir is India's integral part,to build much the best,excellent,strongest,durable and permanent peace and comradeship between Pakistan and India forever......