Pak-India relations: ‘Dialogue the only option for resolving issues’

A meaningful dialogue process coupled with cooperative strategies to solve Kashmir, water and terrorism issues.

In a nuclearised South Asia, dialogue is the only option to resolve the Kashmir issue, according to Ambassador Khalid Mehmood, said a press release issued by the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS) in Islamabad on Wednesday.

He was speaking at a roundtable organised by the IRS on “Pakistan-India Peace Dialogue: Current Status and Prospects”.

Highlighting the lack of trust that has characterised hostility between India and Pakistan, he stressed on an interruptible and meaningful dialogue process coupled with cooperative strategies to solve Kashmir, water and terrorism issues. He said that Musharraf’s stance on Kashmir has hurt Pakistan’s stand on the issue and called on an end to human rights violations in Kashmir.

Describing terrorism as a common scourge, he called for a coordinated action between the two countries to tackle the menace. He was of the opinion that an emerging India can have more productive interaction in the region if it follows the example of Indonesia and does not try to browbeat its neighbours.

Ambassador Aziz Ahmad Khan welcomed the resumption of the peace process in February 2011 and completion of another round of secretary level talks covering all eight working groups such as peace and security, Kashmir, Siachen, Sir Creek, Wullar Barrage, commercial ties and people-to-people relations.

He was not very optimistic about resolution of Siachen dispute, where Indian establishment has taken a hardline stance. He favoured greater people to people interaction and trade ties between the two countries.

Ashraf Azim, IRS President, said the dialogue process has been characterized by ups and downs and lack of vision, but appreciated the new bilateralism in the peace process which may bring peace between the two nuclear rivals.

Dr Ijaz Hussain, a professor from Quaid-i-Azam University, said Musharraf’s abandonment of UN resolution even before the beginning of the dialogue harmed Pakistan’s position on Kashmir issue.

Ambassador B A Malik said India and Pakistan should strive for peace. His proposal on how to achieve this peace encompasses improving domestic situation, moving from anti-terror to anti-extremism policy, moving from ideology to economics-based foreign policy and dialogue with all neighbours.

Gen. Kamal Mattinuddin said India should recognise Kashmir as a dispute and move on the water, Siachen and Sir Creek issues. Both countries should adopt a policy of mutual non-interference and act jointly to address the problem of terrorism.

Gen. (Retd) Talat Masood said that a policy of proxy war should be abandoned and Kashmir should be put on the backburner. The growing strategic partnership between the US and India demands that Pakistan should follow a more pragmatism in its India policy, he said.

He strongly believed that India’s hegemonic behaviour can be countered through economic development and domestic stability. He advised that Islamabad should use its geo-strategic location positively by building gridlines and pipelines which will benefit everyone. Pakistan can also take advantage of the economic growth of both China and India, he said.

Dr Shaheen Akhtar said the growing cross-LoC trade and travel is bringing two parts of Kashmir closer and defreezing the Kashmir issue. Kashmir, thus, is more likely to become bridge between India and Pakistan. John Hill of US Embassy described Kashmir as difficult, protracted and complicated issue which cannot be resolved immediately.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 20^th, 2011.