Islamabad and New Delhi have been finalising dates for the visit of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the hush, much before President Asif Zardari’s official invitation on Sunday, officials told The Express Tribune.
The invitation was first extended by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani to his Indian counterpart in April last year, when he travelled to Mohali to watch a cricket World Cup semi-final between the two neighbours.
“That invitation is still pending,” said a Foreign Office official.
“We believe that the Indian prime minister should reciprocate the gesture by undertaking a visit to Pakistan,” added the official, who requested anonymity. “We are in touch with each other through diplomatic channels to finalise the dates.”
However, the official said India was reluctant to commit to the visit. Indian reluctance stems from the fact that it wants to see ‘meaningful progress’ on key issues, including the prosecution of suspects involved in the Mumbai attacks before Singh tours Islamabad.
However, Pakistan has rejected the Indian assertion, saying such an approach would be a setback to the gradual normalisation that has been taking place in recent years between the arch-rivals.
“Look, we have shown great flexibility in our approach. For years we linked the normalisation of trade and economic ties with resolution of the Kashmir dispute, but now we have moved beyond that phase,” said another official in Islamabad.
The official went on to add that Pakistan’s decision to grant most-favoured nation status to India, despite strong opposition by the right-wing groups, was part of its strategic shift towards normalisation with India.
“Our stance on Kashmir remains the same but we are revisiting our decade-old approach to resolve disputes with India,” he maintained.
“But if India refuses to change its stance then I am afraid all the good work the two sides have already done may go in vain,” the official cautioned.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 9th, 2012.
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@all our fans, pakistan was not the aggressor throughout indo-pak history. india was the aggressor: http://reformistani.wordpress.com/indian-aggression/
@Unbiased: wow, what a statement bro! "A Hindu can never be a friend of a Muslim" but I'm not the narrow minded! How narrower can that statement get?
I share my meal with my Muslim friend each and everyday. We don't even think about religion. Hindus celebrate muslim festivals and muslims celebrate hindus'. If Hinduism was such hostile as you described to people following other religions, we would not have survived this long, we would not have buddhism, sikhism, jainism originating from here. Hinduism is not a religion brother, it's just a life style. A hindu is a follower of every religion and every religion is a part of hinduism. There is a scope for atheists also in Hinduism because it's not a religion.
@Observer - my friend probably you have been fed with misinformation. 70% of Pakistan still lives in peace and more than 98% vouch for peace. The 2% are either mislead or either working for others. We Pakistanis are free to live our lives , yes we do get bothered when our fellow country men are subject to terrorism. and rightly so we do feel dejected , case in point when thousands of our brothers had to move from swat due to the cleanup operation most Pakistanis were out to help them either by muscle or monetarily. Recall the two years of flooding , have you ever seen a mass charity effort by a nation to help their brothers. With regards to visas to muslim countries your information is utterly wrong. Hats of to my fellow country men who are able to withstand all sort of challenges to face issues with guts. Talk to a pakistani and they would always be hopeful and contributing to help Pakistan out of these challenges. By no means I am not saying Pakistan doesnt have its problems and yes we would have to be steadfast if we want to overturn this situation.
Indians do not deserve any respect. Do not invite them to Pakistan. A Hindu can never be a friend of a Muslim. They are too narrow-minded.
@ashok:
"The more things change; the more they remain the same. India will never compromise on Kashmir. Period."
Not true. India has long ago has made a very big compromise! If you remember, Gilgit-Baltistan-Norther Areas and Azad Kashmir are all part of the pre-partition Kashmir. According to India, the whole of Kashmir as existed pre-1947 acceded to India and thus constitutionally part of India. The Indian Kashmir assembly even today has vacant seats that were alloted to these Pakistan controlled areas.
However, India, unlike Pakistan, in the past six plus decades, has never made any attempt to take back the areas occupied by Pakistan. This amounts to a defacto compromise.
@ufaquarian: Delusion will not get you anywhere, no matter how much you wish. Even with the distorted history you have been fed, you should be able to see around yourself. Is this how normal people live? In fear of bombs and suicide bombers from your own kin? When was the last time you were allowed to step out of Pakistan to see how other people live? Why do you think you and your compatriots have trouble getting visas even to friendly "Islamic" countries? It is easy to say that other countries too have problems, but you should be concerned with your own problems because worrying about other peoples' problems does not put bread on your table or give you power to run your computer, or make you appear better. It definitely does not make your own problems go away. I note above that "Indian army has problems" So what? You have never had any success fighting them, even with your advantage of sneak attacks. If you are so strong, why are hundreds of thousands of native and foreign militants (your "mislead brothers") able to keep the whole country on the brink of disaster? What part of Pakistan is under Pakistan control? I know you will say that there are similar problems in your neighboring countries. But will saying that make you safer from the next suicide bomber in your own neighborhood?
@Observer : Ahmed Rashid is no authority , he has his own perspective . If Pakistan was descending into chaos or was "Talibanized" you wouldnt have seen the lively part of Pakistan which still prevails apart from the areas which are suffering. Pakistanis were forced into the War on Terror and some of our brothers got mislead and engaged in anti-Islamic , anti-national activities. The average Pakistani is very peaceful and cultured versus being on any self destruction mode.
To get out of your state of delusion, read "Pakistan on the Brink" by noted Pakistani journalist Ahmed Rashid. His earlier books, including "Descent into Chaos" and "Taliban" show clearly where you are going. It is not a pretty sight. Ignorance of reality is the fastest path to destruction.
@venki... you are no stronger than the former USSR or the present USA... and anyways your army chief said 97percent of the army is obsolute with the antique equipment...so chill untill the maoists and separatists get their due share which is 27 states... with people like you, there can be no solution to the kashmir issue... i bet you never been into kashmir your whole life..you never saw what is life like in kashmir...you think the 700000 soldiers of the indian army are there for picnic? what they are doing? for a moment lets accept your notion that LeT is fighting in kashmir...so how many jihadis can be there? 500? 1000? 20000? and still the 8 lakh army cannot defeat them? come on...grow up...
I think the Indian PM's stand has been consistent. I would be glad to visit Pakistan as long as there is some concrete outcome that we can get out of such a meeting. SOmetimes this information is reported as 'Singh accepted invitation'. sometimes the same information is reported as 'Singh reluctant to commit dates to visit'.
Indians want peace in their neighbourhood - yes. But they do not want to surrender to jihadi blackmail and give us legitimate interests. Any problem resolution will have to have give and take. Pakistan usually only focuses on take and hence problems do not get resolved.
For example, India lifted its objection in WTO to getting favorable export terms to Europe even though it directly affects Indian exporters with whom Pak competes. In return Pak has moved forward on trade relations. Now that India's concession has already been cashed, Pakistan makes it appear that they have given a big favor to India which needs to be reciprocated.
India is a democracy. Broken or otherwise.
The public won't allow their "elected" government officials to go on "private" trips on public money to foreign countries.
@Mo Sheikh: well India we have different ideology but follower of such ideology will never go against our mother land like what you think, every country have such different ideology same like India... India is going on a right path of development, and every citizen is enjoying equal right and opportunity... Mera Bahrath Mahan...
@Its (still) Econonmy Stupid: I cannot reply to a completely biased opinion. Anyway the readers can decide :)
Invitations to visit Pakistan are dime a dozen as no head of respectable state, international cricket team, hockey team, investors delegations are coming. In election year ruling party wants to generate soft power of Mr Singh's visit. It will also give Pakistan braging rights after mumbai 26/11 everything is a OK. If Pakistan is sinecere it can use death of 131 soliders to announce the acceptance of Indian demand of authentication of current position of each army and demiliterize Siachin glacier. Mr Singh will be in Pakistan in a heart beat to sign the accord to save lives of soldiers on both side. Ah but the common sense is a scarce commodity.
@venki: There are more independence movements in India than there are in the whole world. Wake up and come out of your 'Incredible India' bubble. You need a reality check.
@Mo Sheikh
Yeah, like it did in '71
@Mo Sheik. Cooool Mr. sheikh, Pakistan is an International headache but luckily you are in a self a destruction mode. so chillll till you perish.
@ashok, @Omar prepare yourselves for a 1000-year war on Kashmir since it appears that there will not be a solution to the Kashmir issue.
India's arrogance will only be of temporary benefit to them. In the end goodness prevails. Pakistan Zindabad!
India and Pakistan are not two countries, they are two ideologies Just like US and USSR, there can be no peace between them, unless one perishes.
What advantage Mr.Singh will get by visiting Pak. at this time. Because fundamentalists & terrorists are in control and the judiciary in Pak has to pronounce verdicts against terrorists based on Shariat law. which allows such terrorist act
@ashok: Pakistan will also never compromise on Kashmir!!
"We will remain the same but India have to change otherwise our efforts will go in vain" wah what a statement sir-jee. Kashmir will always be a part of India, you can take back your MFN and shove it up in ............................
Well if they are reluctant, then let them be reluctant and do not invite them.
The more things change; the more they remain the same.
India will never compromise on Kashmir. Period.