"I do not want to sound over-optimistic or exaggerate but what I am saying is that there is light at the end of the tunnel," Bashir told a farewell press conference in the Indian capital. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
Bashir, who is expected to be replaced by career diplomat Syed Ibne Abbas, expressed hope that Pakistan and India ties will further improve in future and that he could see the “light at the end of the tunnel” of in diplomatic relations and predicted the improvement would survive next year's Indian elections.
Talking to media persons in New Delhi Bashir said calm had returned to the Line of Control, the de facto border in the disputed Kashmir region after a deadly flare-up earlier in the year. Bashir’s announcement on Monday was the first indication that the commitment made by both sides to improve ties, was yielding results.
"I do not want to sound over-optimistic or exaggerate but what I am saying is that there is light at the end of the tunnel," Bashir told a farewell press conference in the Indian capital.
"We have constantly worked for the improvement in relations between the two countries and at this point of time I am personally optimistic that we will be on the upward trajectory in the coming months."
Some observers have predicted ties between the nuclear rivals could be hit if hardline Hindu nationalist leader Narendra Modi emerges as prime minister after elections due in India by next May.
Modi, who is ahead in the polls, has been an outspoken critic of Pakistan and has accused the current Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of not being tough enough towards Islamabad.
But Bashir said the outcome of the Indian elections was "not material" to Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's stated goal of improving ties.
"The improvement in relations with India is very emphatically a state policy. We believe it's in our interest and we believe it's in the interest of the region," said the high commissioner.
"Our prime minister is on record as having very emphatically stated that improvement of relations with India is a priority.
"An improvement in relations with Pakistan is also something that is of importance to India and the Indian leadership."
Bashir refused to be drawn on the impact of a Modi premiership, saying Pakistan would "respect whatever is the decision of the people of India".
Sharif and Singh both pledged to ensure calm along their border in Kashmir when they held talks in New York in September, the highest-level talks between the two sides for three years.
As well as tensions over Kashmir, ties have also been blighted during Singh's premiership by the 2008 Mumbai attacks, when Islamic militants from Pakistan laid siege to an iconic hotel and other sites and killed 166 people.
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@gp65: You said that too early. Yesterday there was a terror attack on police party near Baramulla and three terrorists occupying a house after killing a PI were eliminated in a gun battle.
This is our need to have normal,healthy and happy relationsip with India,please do think on this subject. We cannot live with tension and rivalry forever,we need to mend our attitudes and should avoid to repeat the past mistakes.
There should be no compromise with India until Kashmir's self-determination (via UN resolutions) is assured. We Kashmiris won't accept any compromise on complete freedom from Indian occupation and demand merger of Kashmir with Pakistan after our vote reconfirms it. We won't be intimidated by anyone. Long live Kashmir, long live Pakistan, love live Islam.
failed state talking to regional power...we pakis never stop daydreaming...even when we ourselves know that when we talk of occupied and kashmir we only mean Indian kashmir..we dont have guts to say we are also talking about so called azad kashmir...we should be clear first and then we should hold talks..otherwise all this talk is waste of our taxpayer money..ET ..do publish my factual comments....
Salman Bashir you and the so called democratic Government are a sham and puppets of the generals. Your or NS words equal zero. World has learnt where OBL was found and taken out.
ETBLOGS1987
Glad that sanity has been restored. Hope it continues. The unnecessary deaths of either Indian or Pakistani or Indian soldiers is to be deeply regretted.
With the Summer ending and the Winter approaching the infiltration has just got a LOT tougher. This is traditionally the time where the LOC is calm, as even giving fire by the Pak Army is not enough.
The LoC peace is shattered during the Summer months and reaches a high during the end when its the easiest for the infiltrators to sneak in, with cover fire.
This peace is brittle, the weather has come to India's rescue.