"The honeymoon period is the best time for any government to take hard decisions." PTI Chairman Imran Khan. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
"Everything stems from Kashmir. Both sides must sit down and sort out the Kashmir issue," Imran told Hindustan Times ahead of his session at the leadership summit in New Delhi.
“Pakistan’s (then) foreign minister, Shah Mehmud Qureishi, who was in India when the Mumbai attacks started, tells me the two countries were really close to forward movement on Kashmir. Resolving Kashmir is the solution to all our problems."
But Imran said that progress on Kashmir was not expected till electioneering ends in New Delhi and a new government takes charge. "Prime Minister Manmohan Singh cannot take a decision on Kashmir now because elections are looming ahead."
"The honeymoon period is the best time for any government to take hard decisions."
Asked about what would Pakistan’s view would be if the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP)Narendra Modi wins next year’s elections, Imran insisted that dialogue was the only way to solve issues between the two countries, even if it is with Modi in the prime minister’s seat.
"Pakistan has reservations about Modi because of the riots and the communal violence in Gujarat, but a dialogue is always there between two democracies. If Modi emerges as the choice of the Indian people, we will have to respect that."
Imran referred to the talks with Taliban when speaking of Modi. "Hakimullah Mehsud was killed on the eve of talks with the Taliban. But if you stand for peace, then it’s not about personalities. When the BJP-led NDA came to power in India, Pakistan was bracing for new hostilities but Atal Behari Vajpayee broke the thaw. So maybe Modi too will moderate extremes if he comes to power."
“Pakistan is at a crossroads and it is imperative that we have a dialogue with the Taliban and bring some peace in the tribal areas, else India will have more than one militant group to worry about."
COMMENTS (78)
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@sexton blake, why will drones attack delhi, !!!!!
Kashmir is part of Pakistan. I say this as a Kashmiri daily living under occupation of Indian foreigners. We desire freedom and independence, and I am glad to see Imran Khan championing our cause. If Pakistan will reach out to Kashmir, we will surely embrace you. We are sick of being treated as subhuman by Indian thugs. Kashmir is for Kashmiris alone. No one has the right to force anything on us. 66 years, and we will fight for our freedom no matter how long it takes. Long Live Pakistan, Long Live Kashmir.
@AP: Almost everything you wrote could be turned upside down and pointed at the Indian Government rather than Pakistan or the Taliban. However, it would be childish to do so, because then I could be accused of also having your tendency to exhibit catharsis behavior. Imran Khan, to my knowledge, is perhaps the only person in the last sixty years or so who has intelligently laid out, in several areas, what needs to be said. So far Pakistan and Indian politicians have shown themselves to be wooly minded.with no clear objectives in mind. In regard to the Taliban, the legitimate Government of Afghanistan until replaced by the US, making preconditions, I wonder what the Indian Government would say if drones were routinely attacking Delhi.
Boy is this guy naive...Kashmir will never be resolved to Pakistan's satisfaction...and Pakistan can't force India to give up it's part of Kashmir...
IK seems to be a egocentric hypocrite and is banking on the delusion of the masses. The meanwhile, pakistanis seem to be moving from one delusion to another. The problems of joblessness, lawlessness, corruption, intolerance etc seem to be( according to IK) by providing solution to Kashmir..? The existin territories of Pakistan such as Balochistan, NWFP are not in its control..Paksitan mutilated east pakistan which finally broke away from it. Now this fool wants Kashmir...?
I think Imran Khan is a dimwit, shortsighted poltician who is diverting the attention of people to popular delusions to extricate himself out of a difficult situation.
IK calls for drone strikes to halt. People should think why the Taliban's only precondition is that drone strikes should stop. Because, the US is hitting them where it hurts.. by killing its leadership..otherwise would the Taliban care?
Every body knows it, but what is the solution ? IK has been syaing that Pakistan is in a very bad state of affairs, but what workable solutions he had put forward, every body knows it
Imran Khan is well advised to focus on his own country's burning problems ie terrorism, sectarianism and failing economy which have nothing to do with the Kashmir issue.
Kashmir belongs to us Pandits, the true original inhabitants of the land, which is the cradle of Vedic civilisation. Give a chance to the millions of Pandits forced to flee over the last several hundred years, up until 1991 in seven mass exoduses (the latest being when 500,000 were ethnically cleansed) to return back to the Valley. Jammu is majority Hindu and Ladakh is Buddhist. Altogether, the vote will be to remain with India.
@Lala Gee: Ambedkar was right in criticising Hinduism for its caste structure.
But if Hinduism is such a "chamber of horrors," why was his education, including his scholarship to Columbia, financed by the Maharajah of Baroda, a high-caste Hindu? Without this opportunity, Ambedkar would not have even been a footnote in history.
Can you name even one low-caste Muslim who received similar support from an upper-caste Muslim in South Asia and made it big? Muslims have castes too, and how. Look up Ashraf, Ajlaf and Arzal. + Your beloved Dr Ambedkar wrote that the social evils in Muslim society were worse than those seen in Hindu society. Check this out:
http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00ambedkar/ambedkar_partition/410.html
@Jag Nathan:
"when is Pakistan vacating the part of Kashmir occupied by Pakistan."
Right now. Come and take it back. Please. LOL.
"How is he going to retrieve the land his predecessors sold to China for a pittance so Pakistan can return to India, land she legally and rightfully owns."
How about you ask China directly to return your "legally and rightfully owned" property? Or, are you not so sure about its legality? Or, are so afraid of even asking after the kind of treatment they gave you in 1962?
@Syed Jalal Kashmiri: You can continue dreaming about "Kashmir becoming part of Pakistan" dear friend, and from your point of view if it does, it does -- but it will be a RACE AGAINST TIME between such an event, and of Pakistan self-imploding given what is happening these days. I say this from a "neutral perspective" -- being only married to an Indian, but of Australian extraction. I would say that those like you who wish to "join Pakistan" should immediately take a one-way ticket to your "chosen land" -- perhaps you all can save it from its self-inflicted chaos... but given the fact that natural resources like land, water, minerals etc are limited and irreplaceable, NOBODY in India (certainly among its national leaders, or Military) will EVER give up the LAND of J&K, irrespective of whatever its current residents may think or feel. That is the harsh reality and none of your (or like-minded people's) attitudes will ever change it, come what may. Once again I say to you, move yourself to Pakistan, and help your brethren there (as you see it) and save them -- else, you will only grow old and die with nobody among yourselves the better for it. Peace! And dream on!
@Anil: o ho bari bari baaten
we have already "touched" the valley four times n that is exactly why we have 35% of it. lets see, for how long you guys can keep rest of it against the will of kashmiri people
@Alann:
"Oh, one more question: The entire police force in Indian J&K is full of Kashmiri Muslims"
Then how the most of the Police Officers, including Governor and civil bureaucracy, in Kashmir are Hindus from India? Would you mind telling us how many Kashmiri Muslims are in the 700,000 Indian Army occupying Kashmiri lands?
@Lala Gee: Dear Lala Gee, You are quite right in regards to the Indian caste system. However, show me a country which does not have a caste system. Britain for example has a rigid caste system, which started in the year 1066, and has continued to the present day. The British are not so obvious about it, but if you have not attended one of their prestigious schools such as Eton you will not get very far. Just look at who fills the positions in British Government, at all levels, and who the board members are in large corporations. Similarly with America, which pretends to be democratic. Just look at who almost all Presidents are related to. It is British royalty. The same can be said for almost all countries including Pakistan. The sad part about it all is that the little minions support their leaders and countries the way they support their cricket teams, and of course refuse to face reality. Unfortunately, caste systems are a fact of life. We do not have to like it, but accept it we must.
Now it is Kashmir and not drones?
@Lala Gee: *So, instead of wasting our time and already meager resources on playing “talk talk” with India, we better use them on real productive work, such as preparing ourselves for what it really takes to get the dispute resolved. The moment India realized that “might is right” rule is not in their favor, they will themselves beg for the dispute resolution. * Given that Pakistan has an economy one-tenth the size of India, that would be a tall order. It's been tried in the past you know ('65 & 98) and came to naught with loss of face to boot.
@Lala Gee You are talking about Nehru's promises/assurances/whatever..yet how do you forget what your own Pakistani leaders did. Indian Army was given full authority by UN to conduct a fair plebiscite over the whole princely state of J & K. The pre-condition was Pakistan removing all its armed tribals (read: state-sponsored militants) and military personnels from Kashmir valley and informing India about the same so the Indian army can take over and conduct a plebiscite. That never happened. What do you have to say about that deception?
Also, elsewhere you are talking about the Hindu caste system and the Sikh killings during Operation Blue Star as well as the riot in Gujarat which resulted in death of some Muslim AND Hindu families, but you conveniently ignored the facts associated with them: 1) Hindu caste system in a way did "suppress" the Dalits or the Untouchables by the "higher castes", but they were not raped/killed/massacred like Shias & Ahmeddiyas (and Hindus and Sikhs and Christians) get massacred in Pakistan on a daily basis by the pious Sunnis. 2) Operation Blue Star was necessary as the people who were holed up in the Golden Temple were militants who had set up a weapons factory in the shrine itself, and were also responsible for killing of the civil forces every now & then. Also, one fact that you may not know about this Operation was that the military personnel who was leading it was a Sikh himself, so were majority of the troops in that battalion. 3) I suppose you must have read it multiple times, but if you don't remember, I'll tell you once again. The Gujarat riots were started by your own "peaceful" pious Muslim brothers who torched a train filled with Hindu pilgrims on their return journey. This triggered the violence between the two communities. This is no different than what is happening openly in Pakistan today. Only difference is India thankfully doesn't have widespread mullahs spreading hatred like in your country, so the incident was limited to the small part of Gujarat instead of spreading throughout the whole country.
In India, there are almost same amount of or maybe more Muslims vis-a-vis Pakistan, yet here Hindus and Muslims don't kill each other on a daily basis, nor do Muslims kill each other for being an Ahmediyya or Shia or anything else. Nor do we have EVEN ONE bomb blast in a full year (except for the occassional terrorists sent from Pakistani soil every 3-4 years).
Also in one comment above, you talked of Hindus & Indian Army forcefully capturing East Pakistan. Neither did India merge East pakistan/Bangladesh back into itself, nor did the Mukti Bahini campaigners were Hindus. They themselves were Muslims who asked for India's help against West Pakistani oppressors. And lastly, you talk so much of what India does, what do you have to say about the biggest ever massacre in the world history after WWII by Pakistani Army of its own people with the direct support of your central government, and what do you have to say about the everyday rapes/killings/forceful conversions in your country TODAY on a DAILY BASIS, all in the name of religion?
Oh, one more question: The entire police force in Indian J&K is full of Kashmiri Muslims, safeguarding the interests of the original Kashmiris from violent mobs coming from across the borders into India as a "one-way traffic" every once in a while. J&K has even seen considerable improvement in infrastructure (highways, railways, airports) and they co-exist peacefully with people of different religions without bomb blasting each other for being Shia or Sunni or Ahmediyya or Hindu or Sikh, Can you say the same about your "Azad" Kashmir?
Khan sahib, you talk beautifully.
However, Indians will judge you by your actions and not statements.
Please fix Pakistan's, or at least KP's, internal problems first.
@Lala Gee:
Dear Mr. Lala Gee, I wonder if your name is derived from a certain Lal Topi. You sure talk like him.
he is great man
Imran Khan replied to an Indian student on the question of Salman Rushdi. Great Asnwer http://explorepaki.blogspot.com/2013/12/great-answer-by-imran-khan-to-indian.html
“Everything stems from Kashmir. Both sides must sit down and sort out the Kashmir issue,” is a statement that is no different from his assumption that the problem of terrorism in Pakistan stems from drone strikes. He tries to make complicated things appear so simple. I don't know whether he is being naive or is putting forth a deliberately false argument.
@Syed Jalal Kashmiri:
"India will never want peace with Pakistan, so our brother Pakistani people should not be deceived by these backstabbers."
Who can help those who still want to be deceived. Here is a short history.
1- Indian Prime Minister, Nehru's, Broadcast on 2 November, 1947.
"We have declared that the fate of Kashmir is ultimately to be decided by the people. That pledge we have given, and the Maharaja has supported it, not only to the people of Kashmir, but the world. We will not, and cannot back out of it. We are prepared when peace and law and order have been established to have a referendum held under international auspices like the United Nations. We want it to be a fair and just reference to the people, and we shall accept their verdict. I can imagine no fairer and just offer."
2- Nehru's telegram of 31 October 1947 to Pakistani Prime Minister, Liaqat Ali Khan:
" .... our assurance that we shall withdraw our troops from Kashmir as soon as peace and order are restored and leave the decision about the future of the State to the people of the State is not merely a pledge to your government but also to the people of Kashmir and to the world."
3- Nehru's telegram of 26 October, 1947 to the British Prime Minister, Clement Attlee.
"I should like to make it clear that question of aiding Kashmir in this emergency is not designed in any way to influence the State to accede to India. Our view which we have repeatedly made public is that the question of accession in any disputed territory or State must be decided in accordance with wishes of people and we adhere to this view."
And only 2 years later, India declared Kashmir her integral part.
@Syed Jalal Kashmiri:
How do you know? The hardcore Islamist parties in Pakistan don't even get 10% of the votes in elections, yet they can stop NATO trucks, hold massive rallies, etc.
They form the minority, allegedly, but wield enormous nuisance potential. Same with Kashmiri Seperatists. They are Islamist and violence is their game; but ask them to stand in elections and prove their majority, they will and cannot.
Last Panchayat elections, 80% of the people of Kashmir voted, for an election which was called for boycott by the toothless Hurriat.
Do you or don't you believe in Democracy?
@Dr.Suman Sinha:
"This guy Lala Gee does not comprehend the connotation of such dreadful happenings as “holocaust” and “genocide”"
Ask the widows of those slain Sikhs, (for your convenience, many live in the same neighborhood now called "Widow Muhalla" in New Delhi),or the gang raped then teenage Sikh girls, or ask any of the survivors of the Mumbai or Gujarat massacres what they call it. They fully understand the connotations, even if I don't.
@Lala Gee:
1) Time: If you want Pakistan to wait for it to succeed and be as powerful as India, as per the "might is right" theory, then, not a problem at all. Pakistan was economically more successful than India throughout the 80s and 90s due to large amounts of aid and free money and weapons. We all know how the Kargil war went, how the anti-India Mujahideen have turned on Pakistan,etc.
2) No talks: You say not talking is good for Pakistan. Since, India has Kashmir and Pakistan doesn't, it is for India's benefit. Thats the advantage of being status quo.
3) British did it, so can we: British had embraced technology, they had the industrial revolution going, the nuclear weapons were non-existent. By becoming a nuclear-weapons power, Pakistan has basically put a full-stop to your dreams. And, Pakistan economy will stay in doldrums, since it'll never reduce the defence and debt will mount after 2014, when the Americans stop giving Pakistan money.
So, all the above 3 points you mentioned are in India's favour and hence, for the first time after many days, I am agreeing with you.
Thank you, @Lala Gee, for being on India's side, without even knowing it.
(Dear Mod: Suppressing truth wouldn't change reality. My comment is taken from the writings of Dr. Ambedkar, the first Law Minister of India for which I am providing the online links in support of its authenticity. Posting 3rd time since this morning.)
@Abhishek: @Mohammed Yusuf: @Iqbal:
What you guys say about this ideology as put by "Dr. B. R. Ambedkar", Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee and the first Law Minister of India, who by the way converted from Hinduism to Buddhism in his later life (due to Aurangzeb's persecution).
This is what "he says about your ideology":
"Hinduism is a veritable chamber of horrors. The sanctity and infallibility of the Vedas, Smritis and Shastras, the iron law of caste, the heartless law of karma and the senseless law of status by birth are to the Untouchables veritable instruments of torture which Hinduism has forged against untouchables. These very instruments which have mutilated blasted and blighted the lives of the Untouchables are to be found intact and untarnished in the bosom of Gandhism."
In another place "he says":
"The Hindu Civilisation, gauged in the light of these social products, could hardly be called civilisation. It is a diabolical contrivance to suppress and enslave humanity. Its proper name would be infamy. What else can be said of a civilisation which has produced a mass of people who are taught to accept crime as an approved means of earning their livelihood, another mass of people who are left to live in full bloom of their primitive barbarism in the midst of civilisation and a third mass of people who are treated as an entity beyond human intercourse and whose mere touch is enough to cause pollution?"
Kashmir is a part of Pakistan. Ask any Kashmiri. You will hear love and praise for Pakistan always. India will never want peace with Pakistan, so our brother Pakistani people should not be deceived by these backstabbers. 66 years now we Kashmiris are waiting for the UN plebiscite vote to determine our future which India will not allow, despite several UN resolutions concerning the matter. -From Indian Occupied Kashmir
(Dear Mod: The following text is from the writings of Dr. Ambedkar, the first Law Minister of India, for which I have provided the reference links to support its authenticity. Please allow.)
@Abhishek: @Mohammed Yusuf: @Iqbal:
What you guys say about this ideology as put by "Dr. B. R. Ambedkar", Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee and the first Law Minister of India, who by the way converted from Hinduism to Buddhism in his later life (due to Aurangzeb's persecution).
This is what "he says about your ideology":
"Hinduism is a veritable chamber of horrors. The sanctity and infallibility of the Vedas, Smritis and Shastras, the iron law of caste, the heartless law of karma and the senseless law of status by birth are to the Untouchables veritable instruments of torture which Hinduism has forged against untouchables. These very instruments which have mutilated blasted and blighted the lives of the Untouchables are to be found intact and untarnished in the bosom of Gandhism."
In another place "he says":
"The Hindu Civilisation, gauged in the light of these social products, could hardly be called civilisation. It is a diabolical contrivance to suppress and enslave humanity. Its proper name would be infamy. What else can be said of a civilisation which has produced a mass of people who are taught to accept crime as an approved means of earning their livelihood, another mass of people who are left to live in full bloom of their primitive barbarism in the midst of civilisation and a third mass of people who are treated as an entity beyond human intercourse and whose mere touch is enough to cause pollution?"
IK continues to lead. Pity he does not have a few more like-leaders on the Sub-Continent to support him. In regard to India I do not think IK has much of a chance. If the Indians leaders are dumb enough to let 66 years go by without providing a solution it means they do not want one or cannot work out what they really want. Indian appear to be a lost cause. Pity about the 1.2 million Indians though.
Every once in a while Immi gets things right....
ET mods, you shouldn't have allowed my post at all. Why edit and leave an incomplete post.
Shocked at the hatred and venom displayed by Indians here. Regardless if you hate us, we Pakistanis don't hate India or Hindus. Islam does not allow us to hate anyone for their religion or ethnicity.
We only want justice for our Kashmiri Muslim brothers. We accept the right of India to exist, now please accept the right of Pakistan to exist and the will of Kashmiris to decide their own fate.
If things keep going as is, Imran Khan is poised to become the most popular leader in Pakistan. Proud of you, Imran. A true National hero of Pakistan.
@Iqbal: @Lala Gee
This guy Lala Gee does not comprehend the connotation of such dreadful happenings as "holocaust" and "genocide", and applies them freely in a reckless manner to suit his prejudiced thinking. Holocaust decimated the Jewish population in a systematic eradication by the Nazi regime during the Third Reich while genocide applies more to Pakistan (than to India where governments have NEVER conducted such a practice). Aside from the Bangladeshi genocide, that killed millions of Bengalis and destroyed their families, Pakistanis continue their violent persecution of the Shias and Ahmedis, not to mention the near decimation of Hindus, Sikhs and Christians.
@Raj - USA:
"I hear Pakistanis often saying that if Pakistan falls to talibans it will affect India also. Can anyone explain this."
The same way Hindus in Junagadh, Hyderabad Deccan, Bhopal, Goa, Sikhism, and East Pakistan supported India and Indian army during the Indian Army's take overs of these sates. What is so difficult to understand.
IBeing in the opposition, K should be careful in making meaningless statements about the Kashmiri people. Pakistan should facilitate the process of uniting the Kashmiri people who are currently living in two parts separated by the LOC.
Rex Minor
I support Imran Khan in this view. The only solution to Kashmir is for the Kashmiri people to be given a voice through a UN plebiscite vote to determine their future. The problem is India knows that we Kashmiris will vote to join Pakistan. This is why for 66 years, India has been oppressing the Kashmiri people and denying their humanity.
If India does not resolve this matter, there may be a full-scale revolution in Kashmir as many people in the streets are becoming fed up with that they see as an attack by India against their culture, religion, and identity. Kashmir is a part of Pakistan and the Muslim world, whether Hindu Indians agree or not. It is up to the 95% Muslim population of Kashmir to determine their destiny, and not anyone else.
This is what Indian wrote to a Pakistan after listening to IK in HT forum:
"Man your Khan is really smart.He speaks with confidence and in manly manner.Just watching him &wondering why didn't you people chose him as your pm.BTW Get this Rahul and give us Khan "
@Nikhil: Kahmiris did not make any decision in 1947. Hindu Raja of Kashmir at that time invited Indian forces and since then Kashmir is occupied by Indian army and still occupied. According to the British formula muslim populated areas were supposed to be given the right to vote whether they want to join India or Pakistan. That right even UN also recognised and asked to India to fulfill but inspite of Jawahal Lal Nehru's promise it is not done yet.
Kashmir become Pakistan if not soon then later that is for sure. Mark my words.
@Atif raza: Simple its ours now. We will safeguard our water sources at all cost. Kashmiris can either live in peace or leave in peace. We never mind it as a separate country earlier since it had a friendly king. I guess my answer is ample clear and you should realize we wont give kashmir coz we cant.
@Lala Gee: On WHAT basis were the killings of Sikhs in 1984 "holocausts" or Muslim killings in 1992 or 2002 (or whenever) "genocides" ??? I suppose the Hindus (and people from several other faiths who lost their loved ones) that died was "collateral damage" ?? You need an education mate!
@Lala Gee: You are disgusting man. You call them brave Britishers while when thy ruled India we were part of India which means they also rules our ancestors. Pathetic.
is this not the same guy that led a drone protest..only to have 2 drone strikes the very next day..?? yea...everyone should listen to him..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Resolving Kashmir (to your advantage) may be solution to all your problems, Mr. Khan, India is not in any way obliged to help you in this regard. We Indians have lived with this problem for 66 years and we are willing to wait until we can resolve the rest of that problem to our satisfaction in our own time.
@Lala Gee: The same ideology that killed millions of Bangalis in 1971. The same ideology that is still killing the Ahmadis and the Shias. And the same ideology that is persecuting the Christians and Hindus in the name of blasphemy law. Oh, I forgot, the same ideology that killed saheed Salman Taseer and the same ideology that garlanded the killers of Taseer sahib.
Finally Imran has learnt the art of politics in Pakistan....start with Islam talk, go for anti-american speeches and now Kashmir issue. All subjects that can mobilize the people of Pakistan. More to come Palestinian issue, Pan Islamism and Shariat etc etc.
Kashmiris do not want to be part of India...
That much is obvious to ever and any one....
Only 700,000 Indian troops keep the current status quo, otherwise Kashmiris would join Pakistan ( regardless of the messed up situation in the country today)
........ saying what every other failed politician has been saying. This amounts to ' keep the pot boiling ' ....... ' fool the people all the time '........ in order to cover your short comings. We expect better from you Mr. Khan.
@Lala Gee: What ideology worked during 1947 & 1971 ? 3 million killed in Bangladesh & 10 million made refugees! Only Jewish holocaust had a bigger death toll ! Your nation is being consumed by the very hate you so admire. And remember India is 3rd biggest economy in the world by PPP and has one of the largest industrial bases in the world. Our economy is back on track and will continue to grow . Our per capita in income is more than 1.5 times yours . You'll not be able to sustain a war for more than a week. Your only option is defeat ( and if u use nukes then annihilation) .
Sadly the solution to all of Pakistan's problems seems to lie outside the country. So maybe its time to handover the reins of Pakistan government to outsiders, to solve Pakistan's problems.
What a true and genius man BUT can anyone name ONE leader since 1947 who did not say this , it is just a REPEAT statement He never says anything new.@Lala Gee: Relevant is to remember that only 20,000 brave Britishers ruled India for 200 years.
Pakistan was part of India that was ruled. So that means since Pakistan is 1/8th of India then 7500 brave Britishers ruled Pakistan for 200 years. Infact Pakistan is the most invaded part of the world.