Pakistan

Singh calls for burying ‘ancient animosities’

Indian PM accepts Gilani’s invitation to visit Pakistan, dates to be decided.

Aditi Phadnis March 31, 2011

MOHALI:

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh held a 90-minute conversation here on Wednesday, a re-engagement that Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao hopes would lead to ‘peace, healing and reconciliation’ between the two countries.

The two prime ministers found time for the talks during the ICC World Cup semi-final between Pakistan and India on Wednesday. Congress President Sonia Gandhi, her son Rahul Gandhi and Indian Parliamentarians also joined the two leaders at the talks which were held in a good atmosphere.

Later in his dinner speech, premier Singh said India and Pakistan should put ‘ancient animosities’ behind them and attend to their people.

“India and Pakistan should be working together to find cooperative solutions and need permanent reconciliation to live together in dignity and honour,” Singh said.

Nirupama Rao said the two leaders had agreed to exchange visits by delegations of lawmakers and deeper and wider cricketing ties, though she did not elaborate on whether this meant that Pakistan’s players would play in the next edition of the Indian Premier League.

Prime Minister Gilani also described his meeting with Singh as ‘positive’ where they discussed “all the core issues between the two countries”. Gilani told Pakistani journalists after the meeting that he invited the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi to visit Pakistan.

The Indian foreign secretary said that the Indian premier has accepted the invitation to visit Pakistan and dates would be announced soon.

Rao denied that the Indian premier had, by deciding to re-engage with Pakistan, put the Mumbai attacks behind India. She said Singh emphasised that both India and Pakistan should strive for an atmosphere free of terror and violence.

But the meeting between the two prime ministers took place against the background of the Saarc meeting at Thimphu and the ‘extremely positive meeting of the home secretaries’.

Rao said the two prime ministers agreed that issues of terrorism should be addressed in a ‘cooperative spirit, jointly’.

The two prime ministers had a substantive conversation for ninety minutes, but exchanges over dinner were related only to sport. Singh referred to the fact that Gilani’s forefathers made a substantial contribution for the building of the Golden Temple.

There will be a flurry of exchanges between the two sides this year, including talks between the surveyor generals of the two countries, commerce secretaries, foreign secretaries and foreign ministers.

In Islamabad, the United States embassy congratulated Prime Minister Gilani of Pakistan and his Indian counterpart for their leadership of ‘cricket diplomacy’ between their countries.

“We wish both nations continued success in expanding dialogue, mutual understanding, and cooperation. We believe continued visionary diplomacy of this sort will lead both countries and the region as a whole to winning results for all sides,” a US embassy statement said.

With additional reporting by Sumera Khan in Islamabad

Published in The Express Tribune, March 31^st, 2011.

COMMENTS (47)

Raj | 13 years ago | Reply @Akbar Ali: Your hate for non Muslims is reflected in your post. India has so many monuments named after Shaheed Bhagat Singh including a college in New Delhi. Indians and Sikhs have learned from history and have forgotten the black scars of post independence including 1984. The difference of Indian and Pakistani secularism is visible. When Pakistan had its first Sikh commissioned officer Lt Harcharan Singh, India's Chief of Army Staff was a Sikh General J.J. Singh. I truly feel sorry for Pakistan that educated elite like yourself is full of hate towards secular ideas. May Allah bless you and my neighboring country I loved and adored the most while growing up in Amritsar.

Akbar Ali | 13 years ago | Reply @Raj: WOW.What an analysis.. that we change the name of Ghaddafi Stadium to Bhagat Singh.. Well, I think its more of your responsibility to rename Mohali Stadium as Bhagat Singh Stadium for two main reasons: 1) gandhi Betrayed Bhagat Singh when he did not request for his Pardon to his English masters 2) After what to did with Sikhs and Golden temple in 1984 , by atleast renaming Mohali as Bhagat Singh stadium you and your Govt.will do some PRASHTIK for Your Immense PAAP.

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

foruchandan | 13 years ago | Reply somebody needs to read history abt mughals..can anyone talk abt aurangzeb,,,,he had infact collecting the religious taxes from hindus alone...but thats past...we need to talk about life now...we cannot undo what has happenned some 2000 yrs ago...we should mend our ways( both the countries) and become global powers

chandran | 13 years ago | Reply Let us bury ancient animosities. Let us start with the new animosities like Dawood Ibrahim; 26/11 attacks; Kargil war. hahaha this is very nice and endless actually one thing is to be noitced that when Muslim(Mugals)ruled the country they never divided the population as Hindus or muslims or India pakisthan but when the europiean starts ruling ous that to at time of their departure they divided us and gone so that we can fight with each other and remain poor always.

Khurram | 13 years ago | Reply Col. Prohit Sir, you may claim to have sharp eyes but your words reveal something quite different to me, a case of myopia and paranoia. I am who I am, telling the truth and seeing the things in a much wider perspective does not make me a Non Pakistani or for that matter an Indian mine is real name given at birth, I do not believe in hiding behind a false identity only fakes do that. I do not know anything about you other than what has been disclosed about you by your comments, believe me it is the people like you who, always beating aloud the drum of false patriotism, are actually the very cause of our plight. Brother you may not be aware of it but we are in a Gutter. Who knows; if we shall ever have a chance to interact again but before parting I wish to say one thing which applies equally to my friends from India, " at the end of the day if we want to improve our lot and touch the heights we are capable of we need above and before everything else to establish a permanent peace between the us, there is nothing that cannot be resolved with faith and sincerity of purpose" this does not mean to undo the partition or surrendering of our sovereignty but only as equal partners.

V S S Sarma | 13 years ago | Reply Bilal Cheema: No one wants to visit your side. Even the people living there are running away.

Vicram Singh | 13 years ago | Reply @COL. PROHIT ALIAS SAMJHOTA EXPRESS: Another paranoid Pakistani - afraid of his own shadow - sees RAW, RSS everywhere.

Bilal Cheema | 13 years ago | Reply We will not allow Indians to come to Pakistan until they root out Hindu terrorists like Col. Prohit and organizations Like RSS,. Leaders Like Criminal Nazio Fascist Narendra Modi and Advani. These are the criminals who are enjoying immunity in the State of Terror. Until these terrorists are brought to justice, No Indians should be allowed to Pakistan. We do not want Col. Prohit like People Planting Bombs in local pakistan trains than Samjhota Express, Or Advani to lead a Mob to demolish a Mosque here or Narendra Modi, The Terrorist, to plan riots like Gujrat's. These Terrorists and others like these, until they are not brought to Justice and Given harshest possible Punishments, No Indians On this side of the Border.

V S S Sarma | 13 years ago | Reply Let us bury ancient animosities. Let us start with the new animosities like Dawood Ibrahim; 26/11 attacks; Kargil war.

Raj | 13 years ago | Reply Now Libya's dictator Gaddafi's days are numbered. If Pakistan's cricket diplomacy is a sincere, Pakistan should change the name of Gaddafi Stadium to either Shaheed Bhagat Singh Stadium or Maharajah Ranjit Singh Stadium. Both had historical links with Lahore. Bhagat Singh's shahdat was for both the countries. Lahore was the capital of Sikh kingdom. Sikhs have very special feelings for Pakistan. I am sure some secular and educated Pakistani will agree with me.

Khurram | 13 years ago | Reply Vicram Singh Jee a lot of things had happened around the time of partition some were right and many were wrong but now the time has come to bury that past once for all and move on to carve a better future for the millions of our people on both sides of the border. It is the easiest thing in the world is to start a fight but to make an everlasting peace is always the most challenging and difficult but once accomplished its benefits know no limit. We not only have the capacity and endurance but above all a common legacy to usher in that bright morning we have been searching for since the last sixty four years.

Singh | 13 years ago | Reply I think I should introduce Mr. Asda Durrani as Lt General Asad Durrani (retd) (Former Director General, Inter-Services Intelligence, Pakistan) Every civilian want peace & rule of law except Army, ISI or you can say militry complex. If civilian have control on pakistan & peace with India then they loose all those big fat perks, biggest land grabbing in pakistan & its resources. They have to fan the hate to keep their money wind mills rolling. It is not USA,UK or any other country. When ever they are in dock they run to them to save them. Winning of Taliban is fig imagination of this or other Retd. generals in mass to save their kitty. Don't fall into their analysis. That how they motivate all these fighter by giving them false hope of winning. Shame on you Mr. Lt General Asad Durrani (retd) (Former Director General, Inter-Services Intelligence, Pakistan)

Vicram Singh | 13 years ago | Reply @Abdul Rahman Khan: " ... Multan is ruiling 1.25 billion people of india and pakistan. Both Mr Manmohan Singh and Mr Yousuf Raza Gilani hail from Multan which is land of sufis who preached love and peace through their poetries. " Mr Khan, you may be aware that the name Multan is a derivation of its original Sanskrit name Mulasthana (मूलस्थान) named after a sun temple. I'd say your PM is from Multan, but our Honourable PM's ethos dates back to the Multan was called Mulasthana. You can see the difference between the two. Peace.

COL. PROHIT ALIAS SAMJHOTA EXPRESS | 13 years ago | Reply @Vicram Singh: No Pakistani wants to Undo the Partition. We have no desire to live with RSS Terrorists. You enjoy them. :) You are right when you say that one's liberator is another's invader. This is the way it is. You will have to live with this reality. We will not change our heros for you. We would rather Prefer to change Friends but not our heros. List is Long , so I would recommend You go and read it and do no come back here until you have read it thoroughly. @Khurram Nice Try Bro but Pakistanis have sharp eyes. They can recognize if there is a Hindu RSS Terrorist hiding behind Pakistani name and Nationality: A typical Hindu Habit. Basically a show of Cowardice. Let me tell you , Pakistani would never say a bad thing about China. That's where We recognize If a Terrorist Hindu is Hiding behind a Pakistani name. Khurram OR whoever your RSS ID is, Nice try. Keep trying , someday You might succeed but We do not Know when. @ Cautious Keep your amusement alive. Or at least give us Credit that we are doing it for you. @ Sumair Ali Khan. Huhhhh!!!! Read my comments to Khurram. Same applies to you. Come Up with your RSS ID People curious to know IF another Col. Prohit is hiding behind this name? @Ahmad Oh My God!! You are so hilarious... !! Read My Note about Khurram, Same applies to you as well. And one thing I completely agree with you that" keep an eye on the Black Sheeps ". We are doing Just that by keeping an eye on people Like you. Good try Boy!!! But You Know what? You are BUSTED!!!!!! LOL. @Eeman.. Read My comments to Ahmad. This is My answer to you too. And I am surprised when you say" Fortunately, Singh has his army in his control but we haven’t .". What are you talking about ? Are you saying Singh's army is not In his control? You are from Singh's side. LOL.. Haha !!! who are you fooling? Pity,Pity, Pity !! Only yourself!!!! BUSTED TOO!!! OH My GAWD!!!! LOL.. All these RSS People found this forum!!!

Vicram Singh | 13 years ago | Reply @Sumair Ahmed Khan: " ... we are the ones at fault and we should correct ourselves towards a better path….I don’t blame any conspiracy theory or any other nation for our woes.. I blame ourselves for wht v r today !! ... " I am not quite sure who you refer to when you say "we" - is "we" people of Pakistan or is "we" India and Pakistan ? As far as my information goes, the US is in Afghanistan, TODAY indirectly, because of the Afghan war involving the USSR and USA/Pakistan/others. So, India did not get them into the neighbourhood. Pakistan started the honeymoon with China, not India, by ceding parts of Kashmir. Pakistan is allowing China to build access routes through Baluchistan. So, my guess is when you say "we", you mean the people of Pakistan.

Vicram Singh | 13 years ago | Reply @Aftab Kenneth Wilson: " ... We must and have to move forward. Stone Age politics won’t work. It is time to build connections. People to people contacts at all levels can play major role. ... " Aftab, Indians are all for peace and its dividends - but we are hesitant about getting into any agreement with Pakistan that will directly or in-directly result in India receiving the gift of militant Islam. On the other hand, I am all for unrestricted access to India for citizens of Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka - for business, education, employment, etc. So until, Pakistan "finishes up" militant Islam within its borders, lets continue to use Skype/ Google Talk for more people to people contact. It is not just India, all other nations are very wary of people traveling on a green passport. You appear to be a member of a minority community in Pakistan and WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE NEED FOR PEACE I know what you mean.

Aftab Kenneth Wilson | 13 years ago | Reply We must and have to move forward. Stone Age politics won't work. It is time to build connections. People to people contacts at all levels can play major role.

Sumair Ahmed Khan | 13 years ago | Reply @ Vicram Singh......So, if China, USA, UK is playing games in South Asia – whose fault is it ? Sir ! thats my point.. we are the ones at fault and we should correct ourselves towards a better path....I don't blame any conspiracy theory or any other nation for our woes.. I blame ourselves for wht v r today !!

khan | 13 years ago | Reply It is very easy to label every thing as conspiracy theory but years later we learn how world powers have used self inflicted wounds to make wars. It would be naive to believe that west is doing all this to bring democracies and to improve living conditions of Afghanis and Iraqis if these were the goals then who is more deserving of this help than suffering and dyeing of millions of people of famine and AID yet their plight falls on deaf ears of the west. Today the world is a global village and it is in the hands of corporate feudalism and owning the entire world’s resources is the ultimate goal and biggest and strongest corporations are the military Industrial complex and all these wars and terrorism are tools to achieve their goals. All lobbyist and politicians are in their pockets and Religion and nationalism are the tools used by politicians to divide people and make wars otherwise historically people of all faith and color have shown if left alone they can live in peace with each other because every human has a common goal and that is to provide shelter and food and education for their families.

Sumair Ahmed Khan | 13 years ago | Reply @ Vicram Singh !! Thank You very much... U r no different then our Asad Durrani... No 1 want to undo the partition... We all just want to move forward n its not just Pakistanis but i believe a lot of Indians too.... though u r one of those exemptions who still prefer to stay in the past n not move forward... No wonder i just feel u r 1 of those whose income is dependent on the fact that both these countries keep fighting... Grt Luck brother :) Keep Hating.. Keep Fighting.. Make it a living Hell for all of us....

Vicram Singh | 13 years ago | Reply @Sumair Ahmed Khan: " .... but western interest do not want us to be that, that is the reason they have left us with Kashmir like issues to fight for ever… why was Kashmir left disputed at the time of partition… a preplanned game, so that we keep fighting for the days to come. .... " It is wrong to blame the British for the Kashmir problem. As part of the deal, they had given the option to all princely states to join either India or Pakistan. It was not for them to decide Kashmirs fate. It was Jinnah's shortsighted plan to annex Kashmir by force is the root cause of all the militancy, terrorism, etc. So, if China, USA, UK is playing games in South Asia - whose fault is it ?

Vicram Singh | 13 years ago | Reply Quite ironic isn't it - from reading comments from Pakistan, one gets the feeling that Pakistanis want to undo the partition. The ancient animosities are civilizational - for us Muhammad-bin-Qasim is an invader, for you he is a liberator - these can never be bridged. You hold the Mughal reign glorious, we look back to Ashoka and Chandragupta. You look up to Arabs as superior people, we do not. The list goes on.

Khurram | 13 years ago | Reply Sumair Ahmed Khan; very well said it has always been the poicy of some nations US, UK and China in particular to drive the wedge between Pakistan and India as deep as possible by posing as our friends or benefactors for their own long term benefits. We are very emotional people can be be quite easily exploited in the name of faith, ethinicity and umpteen other things which play no role in nation building. It is hightime we join hands with our brothers and sisters across the radcliffe line and realize our true potential and what we are capable of, we have been exploited for too long.

Indian | 13 years ago | Reply Well said Sumair. Couldn't agree with you more. It's amazing with all our ethnic and cultural similarities in India and Pakistan we would rather trust westerners, Arabs and Chinese over each other and are at each other's throats. People love to create fights between us and sell ideologies and weapons to both sides and we all remain in the self destruct mode. An Indian or a Pakistani hating each other is like looking in a mirror and saying i hate you.

Khurram | 13 years ago | Reply @Asad Durrani. Honestly speaking, I am way more scared of sick mind-sets and frustrated souls like you than India or Indians.

A R Khan Yusufzai | 13 years ago | Reply Indeed a laudable effort by Indian PM Dr. Manmohan Singh for taking this opportunity to mend fences. Composite Dialogue, people to people contact must start immediately. Preconditioning dialogue means dooming it beforehand. It is time to get back to the drawing boards and give peace a chance. The Thimphu spirit just might be it. Talks are good. Sustain those by making them “uninterrupted”.

Sumair Ahmed Khan | 13 years ago | Reply @ Asad Durrani @pl/sql !! its people like u who have brought us to this stage... the sub continent had all the potential to become a super power.. area, population n resources.. but western interest do not want us to be that, that is the reason they have left us with Kashmir like issues to fight for ever... why was Kashmir left disputed at the time of partition... a preplanned game, so that we keep fighting for the days to come. Both of us buy weapons from western countries and they keep earning from it. Move on Guys !! The day we stop fighting both of us will have ample resources to bring our countries on the top and this is what the out siders do not want... Its high time now, we need to think positively for our nation and generations to come !!

Indian | 13 years ago | Reply @ Asad, What future can Pakistan give to the Kashmiris? The Indian Kashmiris are better off in India than in Pakistan. This mentality will never bring peace. You think you are on a mission to islamize the world while so many people in Pakistan are not even assured of their next meal for their family. This religious hysteria of Pakistan has been it's undoing. You are more kashmiri than the kashmiris, more palestinian than the palestinians but your own children are not assured of a bright future. Every insanity gets legitimized by just saying muslims don't care about this life but the afterlife. If you are so eager to die to start your "afterlife', why do you want to take everyone along with you?

chandran | 13 years ago | Reply our indo afgan relation is tribute to Bachaa khan and his red shirt movement

harkol | 13 years ago | Reply @Ahmer Ali

India may also declare Kashmir issue as an “ancient animosities”

It is not 'may'.. It has so many times done so. Kashmir issue is a legacy of a failed ideology that religion defined nations. Thus it is indeed a ancient animosity, that will not lead to anything but waste of time/resources between two nations. It can never be resolved to Pakistan/Kashmiri Muslim's satisfaction, if their idea is to seperate it from India as it'll lead to subjugation/elimination of the minorities of Kashmir (just as it has happened in Pakistan). So, the only way forward is to treat it as an historic fact, and move on in other domains.

Cautious | 13 years ago | Reply Fascinating - identical down to the DNA except for religion - but adamant that your completely different. Would be amusing if it were not so tragic.

harkol | 13 years ago | Reply @Assad Durrani Please visit a doctor urgently. In case Pakistan lacks good mental facilities, you could come to India for treatment. You need some urgent medical attention as your conspiracy theories show that you suffer from pathological paranoia. Do not delay treatment, it may prove even more harmful.

Anuj mehta | 13 years ago | Reply @ Asad we dont need to put our army in Pakistan...your own army is doing great job devastating pakistan to its core..... here in India, we couldnt care less......who the hell has any interest in peace process with pakistan and if you dream of kashmir as paki state or independent country, keep on dreaming for rest of your life...

Ali | 13 years ago | Reply Asad Typical conspiracy theorist! get over it!

pl/sql | 13 years ago | Reply @ Asad I am an Indian and I agree that there will never be peace between these two countries FULLY. We are different and we want different things and we say different things. So we just need to try and avoid getting into each other's way as best as we can. And yes Kashmir is an integral part of India.

Abdul Rahman Khan | 13 years ago | Reply Multan is ruiling 1.25 billion people of india and pakistan. Both Mr Manmohan Singh and Mr Yousuf Raza Gilani hail from Multan which is land of sufis who preached love and peace through their poetries. The people of Multan are soft-spoken and peace loving. Hope both the prime ministers will keep up the traditions of their 'janam bhomi' and use their charm and strive to achaieve ever-lasting peace and tranquility between the people of pakistan and iondia.

arvind | 13 years ago | Reply @ Asad : Sick mind

maestro | 13 years ago | Reply Give peace a chance please!!! Don't go harping on stupid issues when half the populations of both countries don't have food and clean water! Get it right, play cricket, visit each other, and build a solid foundation finally in the Sub continent that shows the world that we are fully capable of making this region the next prosperous region on this little planet. STOP FIGHTING!!!

Ahmer Ali | 13 years ago | Reply Assalam-o-Allaikum Warahmatullah. @Joni Italas.Not a negative thought for peace process' destruction.This is reality because Kashmir is a disputed area then why it's declared as an integral part of India every time by the Indian leaders especially after every peace talks' meeting?

Don | 13 years ago | Reply @asad durrani It is people like you which have to be confronted jointly by the common people of both countries

chandran | 13 years ago | Reply as an Indian what is my fear is american going to put a permanent camp in Afganisthan because alreary american vice president Biden talked about this with Kazarai during his previous trip,by camping in Afganisthan they are not going alow any gas pipline towards east from afganisthan and make india energy starving nation and further put a pull stop in the indian economic growth. Till now the american have around 50,000 troops in Iraq.They said they will close everything after the gulf war but they dont. One more advantage for them is on west of Iran They have one on Iraq and on east one at afganisthan. Unfortunately Pakisthan check mated with this USA because on west side they have nuclear super power USA on west side and nuclear arch rival India on east. They are already doing drone attack on swat valley and they already killed lots of people and the nuclear power pakisthan army is blnking now. Because americans already start questioning the sovernity of pakisthan by way of drone attack.

Satish | 13 years ago | Reply @Asad Durrani: Kabhi nahi sudhroge

Eeman | 13 years ago | Reply Fortunately, Singh has his army in his control but we haven't.

Joni italas | 13 years ago | Reply what a negative thought to destroy the peace process.

Ahmer Ali | 13 years ago | Reply Assalam-o-Allaikum Warahmatullah.Don't bury Kashmir because Indian leadership is always claiming Kashmir as India's integral part and be careful that India may also declare Kashmir issue as an "ancient animosities".

Ahmed | 13 years ago | Reply The citizens of both the countries may also be allowed to visit each other's countries to meet their relatives, a long-awaited decision. Please look into it and also keep an eye on the Black Sheep who do not want peach in the region.

Asad Durrani | 13 years ago | Reply No Long-Term Peace and relationship between India and Pakistan can be established until the Core Issues are resolved. This gesture of friendship did not come out of Pure goodness of heart. India and Indian Media tried its best to Bully pakistan on the instructions of Britain and USA after 26/11 which was its own Brainshild with the help of CIA and MI5 to subdue Pakistan and to establish hegemony over its western Neighbor in exchange of beautiful dreams USA showed as Indian Presence in Afghanistan. India , on these guarantees, streamlined its Govt. agencies, civil society and Media and declared a information War on Pakistan which continued for almost two years until two things happened. 1. USA and NATO failed miserably to defeat Afghan Resistance fighters. Rather they suffered heavy casualities themselves for the last two years and decided to cut down their Military adventurism in Afghansitan Knowing they can never win this war. Relationship between Pakistan and USA strained over couple of issues and Islamabad reduced its cooperation , partially due to dislikes about US Policy about Pakistan and partially due to People's pressure . Result of which was tention between the two Allies and Pakistan's refusal for further full Cooperation in War against Terror. Above two outcomes had a direct impact on Indian direct investments in Afghanistan. Knowing that after troops reduction by USA / NATo in Afghanistan will result in very dangerous situation for Indian Pesonnel in this country and they would be the target of Afghan freedom fighters. In this context I see this Invitation of Manmohan singh to PM Gilani so that a friendlier Pakistan who was a worst foe til yesterday, may become a Lifeline for Indian Afghans Peronel and Investment. Because Hostile Afghans who fought US can only be friendly to Indians If Pakistan adopt a softer instance towards Indian presence in Afghanistan. But If Indians have the feeling of Grandeur that they can perform better than NATO and USA combined militarily, then be my guest and enter your troops there and see what is the outcome.

Replying to X