WE THE PEOPLE
With Krishna’s Pak visit, clouds of Pessimism have started dwindling down
But Political Analysts urge Indo-Pak leadership to shun egoistic considerations and work unitedly to achieve the Objective.
By: Wajahat Ali
Srinagar:
It seems there is thaw in Indo-Pak relations after SM Krishna travelled to Pakistan and had frank and candid discussions with Shah Mahmood Qureshi on terrorism, J&K, recent developments in Kashmir, Sir Creek and Siachen. Kashmir related Confidence Building Measures were reportedly discussed and how to move ahead on what was achieved earlier. However, Pak’s Minister for I&B, Qamar Zaman Kaira has reiterated that the Kashmir issue is and will always be the core subject of discussions between Pakistan and India.
The meeting between Manmohan Singh and Yousuf Raza Gilani on the sidelines of SAARC Summit at Thimpu followed by the two Foreign Ministers and drawing schedule for the third meeting are forward movements.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi had earlier on May 12 made it clear that Kashmir solution is imperative for establishment of peace in the entire South Asia.
This is what he told the Head of the Kashmir Center Brussels Barrister Abdul Majeed Tarambo. Sources said that host of issues had come under discussion with special focus on Pak-India Prime Ministers meeting at the SAARC and other issues in length. Later in a quick chat with host of journalists, he went on to say that Pakistan is serious to solve all issues with India in an amicable manner adding it will not leave its stance at any cost for the cause of million of Kashmiris.
He is on record to have said that present government’s foreign policy as compared to Pervez Musharraf has vast difference in strategy and approach. No solution without the aspirations of million of people of Kashmir is acceptable, the FM has underlined. He has admitted that there is no time frame but both the governments want that Kashmir solution is solved peacefully and at the earliest. He said that during his meeting with his counterpart, he has stressed on his Indian counterpart to adopt a holistic approach to solve the lingering dispute.
Similar echoes were heard earlier from Syed Raza Gilani, who in an interview to the 'Financial Times'. said the world community should nudge India to resolve all "core" bilateral issues, including Kashmir and sharing of river waters, arguing that "tension" on its eastern border is a distraction to its fight against al-Qaeda and Taliban in its restive tribal belt. He has reaffirmed that Pakistan wants to maintain very good relations with India and with other neighbours as their common enemy is terrorism.
It is worth mentioning that Manmohan Singh too had earlier said that dialogue is the only way forward but "there is a lot of pressure within (India) which doesn't let him move forward." It is also worth recalling that both the Prime Ministers had agreed in Sharm el-Sheikh last year that the composite dialogue should not become hostage to the Mumbai terror attacks.
It is Washington that has been encouraging the two countries to hold talks and end the prolonged diplomatic standoff between the two countries. But the immediate challenge is to find a way to reconcile the clashing views how the dialogue should be pursued so that the pending issues are resolved to the satisfaction of all concerned.
It is pertinent to state that the trust-deficit existing between the two countries has been giving rise to many apprehensions. But it is gratifying to observe that efforts are on to sink down the differences to bring the arch rivals closer and it was in this context that Indo-Pak Peace Conference held in India some time back had called for uninterrupted and unconditional dialogue between Islamabad and New Delhi for resolving Kashmir and other outstanding issues.
Therefore, it appears that Indo-Pak leadership has realized the gravity of situation prevailing in this region, especially after Mumbai incident, giving leverage to the forces inimical to peace and thus making 1.25 billion people hostage.
Hence People urge all concerned parties to shun egoistic considerations and work unitedly to achieve the objective. The political leadership of both the countries along with Separatists should put their heads together to arrive at a solution not only for Kashmir but for other issues too to ensure peace in the South-Asian region.
More 
