Pakistan

Pakistan-India relations: Gilani renews call for resumption of peace process

Pakistan, Oman agree to start a ferry service between the two countries.

Agencies December 29, 2010

MUSCAT:

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Tuesday asked India not to hold the dialogue process hostage to the November 2008 Mumbai incidents.

“There is no communication gap with India on resolving the core issue of Kashmir and other outstanding issues. This impression should be dispelled that there is a lack of communication.

However, there is a lack of trust,” Gilani told Omani newsmen, while on a visit to Muscat.

He said that Pakistan desires the resumption of dialogue with India to resolve all outstanding issues and spoke of talks with his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh during which he told him that one incident should not be allowed to hold the dialogue down.

“The Kashmir issue resolution is vital for regional stability. Pakistan wished to discuss all core issues including Kashmir, and India too had agreed on it.”

Regarding the presence of terrorist groups along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, he said that both countries realise they are ‘victims of a common enemy’. “Nato forces and Isaf are working in consultation with Pakistan and Afghanistan to jointly combat terrorism.”

The prime minister added that his visit to Oman would help expand economic and trade cooperation.

“I discussed the whole gamut of cooperation in a meeting with Sultan Qaboos of Oman and the Deputy Premier. It was agreed that both countries will have cooperation in textiles, fishing, education and development in Gwadar.”

Gilani also disclosed that Pakistan and Oman have agreed to start a ferry service between the two countries

“We also agreed to work out a feasibility to run ferry service between Gwadar and Muscat,” he said.

The planned service is still in its initial phase and will run between Gwadar and Muscat.

Special Adviser to Sultan Qaboos said his country explored the feasibility of operating such a service. He said this service would benefit both the countries and generate economic activity.

Oman also sought assistance from Pakistan Railways for laying a railways network in Oman.

Pakistan will provide assistance in planning, designing, consultancy services, construction and operation of railways.

Pakistan offered to increase the number of scholarships for Omani students.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 29th, 2010.

COMMENTS (25)

J.Oberoi | 13 years ago | Reply "26/11 was your security failure. 10 men were on rampage and you couldn’t stop them." @Pakistani 11, it is rather hard to take them out when they are in the middle of 400 civilians, wouldn't you say? But fewer than that managed to get into your GHQ (!!) and nearly took out your generals. Hmmm... that says something, doesn't it?

Balwinder Sandhu | 13 years ago | Reply Dear Tony Sorry, you are a fellow Indian but I would have to disagree with you. The partition is a done deal. A bloody, botched affair but it would be extremely stupid to say that anyone in India wants the partition undone. It is almost as fantastical as saying India should reclaim all its former lands right into Afghanistan and reconvert everyone back to Hinduism. @pakistani 11- Good lord man, grow up. Kasab is caught and we are still going on about it being an insider job. Your statement - 10 men were on rampage and you couldn’t stop them- is downright insulting and disgusting. Should the whole world say the same about the ragtag Talebanis who are battering your country to bits. @Dr Deb Misra- brilliant posts, I recommend all Pakistanis to read them and answer.

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

Tony Singh | 13 years ago | Reply @ Pakistani 11 Do you not think that we have a right to our ancestral homeland? And why, as a decendent of parents, whose generations have lived in Pakistan before partition, should accept the partition? Give me one good reason.

Pakistani 11 | 13 years ago | Reply Truth is that India since 15 Aug 1947 has never truly accepted the partition(i.e existence of Pakistan). and 26/11 was your security failure. 10 men were on rampage and you couldn't stop them. and regarding that it was done by some Pakistani individuals or was an inside job, we may never know.???????

kamal | 13 years ago | Reply We do'nt want any portion of pakistan nor we want any single pakistani becoming Indian national...they are better off in pakistan.We are already having our share of problems.

R S JOHAR | 13 years ago | Reply @Dr Mishra I fully agree with your views and analysis about the past which is totally fair as well as logical and many Pakistanis journalists too express the same views. However, the situation in Pakistan is extremely complicated and two major problems which are dogging this country is religious extremism and bad governance and they are no easy solutions.

Dr+Dev+Mishra | 13 years ago | Reply Sorry if my above comment sounded harsh, but we did send our PM Vajpayee in the ninetees on a bus to Lahore to sign a peace treaty, and he did recite some wonderful poetry there. All we got in return was Kargil (500 Indian and 1800 Northern Light Infantry dead). Pakistani leaders who love to stir things up, love to quote 1971. I think Pakistanis should move on, the loss of Bangladesh does not really matter in the present scheme of things. Even back then, it is not as if the average Pakistani had any real love lost for the bengalis. Even today, here in the UK, most of my Pakistani doctor friends would get very upset if any of their children ever thought of marrying a Bangladeshi. Sad, but true. So, pl do not hold the liberation of Bangladesh against us Indians. It was bound to happen and you are actually rid of one of the poorest regions in the world. Peace to all, Dr Dev Mishra, India and UK

Dr+Dev+Mishra | 13 years ago | Reply Many ppl here seem to have forgotten about th scale of Pak initiated and local Islamist violence in India over the last 20 years. Do not forget that the latter is sometimes Pak inspired as well. We have been bombed and attacked repeatedly -Kargil, Kandahar hijack, Parliament 2001, Akshardham temple, Mumbai stock exchange, Diwali blasts, Jaipur 2008, Mumbai- Kasab 2008 etc etc) The hatred is not hindu or Indian specific- it also applies to the Jew or Christian, hence the attack on the Jewish center in Mumbai 2008, where the Jewish couple was actually TORTURED before death. Dawood, Tiger Memon etc etc are class examples of where Islamist terror and Pak terror are intertwined. Also where Faisal of Times Square bombing, Abdullah of Sweden, the 7/7 bombers in London, Dr Khan of Glasgow bombing (roots in Bangalore) are all intertwined. A veritable United Nations of Terrorist Islamists. So is India being obdurate? Would a village hit by drones ever invite George Bush or his relatives for a conclave? Or would it say, please put away the drones first, permanently. And yet, the second loudest cheer in CWG this year went to the Pak team. Life is funny and sad. The loudest one went to our beloved ex President Dr Abdul Kalam, a muslim. Long live Indian secularism. My best wishes to all in Pak, we all hope you overcome the dark forces of fundamentalism in your country. I visited Lahore in the eightees and fondly remember the warm welcome offered to me. Dr Dev Mishra, India and UK

AnIndian | 13 years ago | Reply @ Oberoi & Johar: Cool down. Take a breath. As if tomorrow we have to accept the accession of Pakistan. The statement of mine, obviously queer, was to gauge the minds. I was eagerly expecting some sharp knee jerk responses from Pakistanis - but you guys proved that we could be "more knee jerky". Bad Job. Pun intended. :)

R S JOHAR | 13 years ago | Reply @J Oberoi I fully agree with your comments and this guy must be out of his mind which also appears to be working overtime. No Indian wants further partition of this country, as stable Pakistan is best for India.

J.Oberoi | 13 years ago | Reply "a overwhelming majority (say 90%) of the Sindh and Pak Punjab want to accede to India". That is the craziest thing I have EVER heard. @AnIndian, have you had too much to drink? Why would India want to be part of this quagmire? The answer would most likely be: Thanks, but no thanks !

AnIndian | 13 years ago | Reply The Af-Pak border terrorism is hopeless. IF, a overwhelming majority (say 90%) of the Sindh and Pak Punjab want to accede to India, the Indian government should allow them to. Again, if the people want to, and only if it is peacefully possible.

Ajay | 13 years ago | Reply They like to take shelter behind the abused lines "We have a common enemy"...a common enemy against who they do not wnat to take any action but want the world to ignore the problem in the belief that Pakistan is also a victim or terrorism. How can it be a victim when it gave birth and nurtured it for 60 long years. Oh they will say..it only began after 1989....so there was no religious intolerance before that??? Then you also hear that it was American's fault because they left the scene..... is Pakistan a hand maiden of US that it doesn't know what the right thing to do? Is fighting communism more important than nurturing terrorism on its soil? American's didn't amr twist Pakistan in fighting its war with USSR..it was Pakistanis dying to get into action and also convert Afghanistan into their 'backyard', to weaken it so that it's border disputes with Afghanistan will simply melt away or at the very least become easier to handle.

Ajay | 13 years ago | Reply He is only saying what military establishment wants him to say. Nobody- Gilani or military is serious about imporving relationship with India. They do it either because of some pressure, some consideration but never with genuine motives.

Sapan Kapoor | 13 years ago | Reply You Pakistanis don't get it. Isn't it? See we want peace with you but we won't tolerate terrorism emanating from Pakistan. We won't tolerate another 26/11. If you give up terrorism and genuinely try to mend ties with India, we would be there waiting for you more than half a way. But no more terrorism please. If not for India at least for the future generations of Pakistan, give up terrorism.

SARMA | 13 years ago | Reply Starting from the 1948 war by Afridi tribals to the Operation Gibralter of 1965 to the hijacking of the Indian plane to the Kargil war to issue of passport to Dawood Ibrahim to abetting and aiding terrorists and training them against India to...what actions Pakistan did in the past that warrant trust ?

Anoop | 13 years ago | Reply 2 people cannot talk if one has a gun to the other's head(Terrorism).

R S JOHAR | 13 years ago | Reply As long as Pakistan treats LeT terrorists as freedom fighters, there can be no meaningful peace talks with India as well as peace in Pakistan. This deadly outfit as per American analysts has become more stronger than TTP, also maintaining a strong presence in NW and Afghanistan and possess capability of hitting targets even in Western countries. Analysts also predict that they will be posing bigger threat in heart of Pakistan than TTP. The state policy of using terror organisation has already backfired causing deaths of many innocent lives in the country and its continuance will lead to more bloodshed in Pakistan.

Cautious | 13 years ago | Reply Seems to me that India has made a reasonable request and has every reason to believe that without pressure Pakistan will never bother to follow up on this tragedy.

gunjan | 13 years ago | Reply @Muneer P Then talks are not possible either. And sooner or later, we will have to root him out.

Muneer P | 13 years ago | Reply Even if Pakistan wants to do it, Hafiz saeed cannot be put in jail. This is impossible. He is too popular.

Indian | 13 years ago | Reply Back to sqaure one!!We will not do anything and you do everything..rt Mr PM??

Tony Singh | 13 years ago | Reply Don't expect India to have dialogue by puting a gun on its head.

Sankalp | 13 years ago | Reply

Gilani said Pakistan desires resumption of dialogue with India to resolve all outstanding issues and spoke of talks with his Indian counterpart Dr Manmohan Singh during which he asked him that one incident should not hinder talks.

One Incident? Well, Kargil happened after, when Mr. Vajpayee went on a bus trip to Lahore. Then again, when the talks resumed, Mr. Musharraf came to India, things started to look good with sports and cultural exchanges but then, Mumbai 26/11 happened. So now, wots the guarantee that another similar incident won't happen if the talks resume. Not that I am against any dialogues, I want it to happen as much as any other Indian/Pakistani wants it, however it doesnt seem probable until Pakistan takes very stern actions against the terrorist operating from its soil. Just being Realistic.

m.Kh | 13 years ago | Reply There is no real will root out militants . So this will go on like this ... and there is nothing new he has been is just parroting same lines again.

Replying to X