India to discuss Kashmir in 'open' Pakistan talks

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh says all disputes including Kashmir will be discussed in new peace talks.


Afp March 04, 2011

JAMMU: India's prime minister said Friday he was approaching new peace talks with Pakistan with an "open mind", saying all disputes including Kashmir would be discussed.

New Delhi and Islamabad announced on February 10 that they would resume full peace talks which were suspended more than two years ago after gunmen from Pakistan attacked India's financial capital Mumbai.

"We wish to resolve all outstanding issues between the two countries through friendly dialogue and constructive and purposeful negotiations," Manmohan Singh said at a function at a university in the disputed state of Jammu and Kashmir.

"This includes the issue of Jammu and Kashmir," he said in Jammu, Kashmir's winter capital which has been largely unaffected by an Islamic insurgency that flared in the Muslim-majority region in 1989.

Kashmir is divided between the two countries along a de facto border, but is claimed in full by both.

Former Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi was slated to visit India in July at the start of the full-scale resumption of talks before he was removed from his post in the cabinet reshuffle.

Ties between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan, which have fought two of their three wars since 1947 over Kashmir, have been dogged by border and resource disputes, and accusations of Pakistani militant activity in India.

"We are willing to discuss all issues that have a bearing on the peace, dignity and well-being of the people of Jammu and Kashmir," Singh added.

Indian Kashmir last year saw some of its biggest protests against Indian rule, leaving more than 110 protesters dead, mostly in police firings on stone-throwing young men.

"This subcontinent of ours will not realise its full development potential unless relations between India and Pakistan are normalised," Singh said.

India and Pakistan embarked on a formal peace dialogue in 2004, which continued until the rupture caused by the Mumbai attacks, blamed by India on Pakistan-based militants.

COMMENTS (21)

Irfan | 13 years ago | Reply Good,strategy by manmohan singh. Just say K word,We dont know pakistan is very weak to harm.Atleast talks can keep the militants away. By 2020,India would be 6 trillion dollar economy,Kashmir would more developed ! On the similar side,govt must not allow people to disrupt law and order in kashmir,give them jobs and keep them silent.Police is sufficient to handle the wicked boys! Lets buy time !!pakistan is bound to merge into india :)
John | 13 years ago | Reply @raja: If the people of Kashmir on PAK side (whole region) wanted independence they would have also rose up against the PAK government. Things moved on in 60 years. The POK area has received more money from UK based Kashmiris than other regions. The economy is relatively better compared to other remote regions of PAK. Granted, the J&K economy has not progressed as compared to other states in India. The past 3 Govt in India are trying to pumping money into the region in the infrastructure. Neither country wants to go beyond LOC as the natural border of the country. Once the LOC is crossed, both countries have no more natural borders because of the terrain. People on either side of the borders at LOC are freely moving and finding work, and trade. The situations are either side of the border sometimes restricts, as in Israel and Palestine where there is still cross border traffic. With regard to freedom of people, no one is against it. Kashmir and Jammu has elected general assembly, and J&K state constitution clearly sates in which side of the border the state belongs. Every state in India fought for their state autonomy, rights, and its share of the revenue from the center Govt, as is typical of all unions including USA where the water disputes and tariff disputes still exists between state. They won't take the guns however on this matter. Geography, contiguous land scape, integrated economy, people, strategic international borders all has made J&K a part of India ever since the first kingdom was formed, has gone through numerous hands, last from Akbar, to Singh, to British for the very reasons I cited above. Emotions are important for every one to attach to the land, but in rulers mind whether Akbar, Singh, British, now India and PAK, real things are also important such as natural borders, trade route which historically defined nations for flow of economy. Kashmir and Jammu is an independent state like any other state in India, and it's destiny is with people, and its assembly. Govt. of India can only facilitate, enforce, and assist. The rest is with the people. One can not ask for separation and also for money from Govt of India or from other financial institutions to run the local economy. The govt of India spent disproportionate share of money from treasury on J&K than other northeast states. The way in and out of j & k is from south not from west. Which way will the produce and people use for trade or pleasure. Sorry, it is the terrain. if independence of Kashmir means also independent militia(military) and currency, sorry you are mistaken. People of J&K do not have the money for all that and no one will loan the money. For those who are still under religious emotional clutches, please read Mr. Jardhari's (pak president) letter in Washington Post on March 6, to understand where PAK stands. Please ignore typo errors.
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