Pakistan needs to pull out of Kashmir to resolve dispute: Achakzai M

ISLAMABAD: Pakhtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai has said that Pakistan should make the first move and initiate the idea of an independent Kashmir.

“Why don’t we adopt a new policy on Kashmir dispute? Let Kashmir be free from both India and Pakistan. Kashmir is the root cause of many issues between both the countries. Why (should) not we take the first step to solve it?’’ he told BBC Urdu on Friday.

He said that by putting forward this suggestion, Pakistan would be able to tell the world that it is sincere in resolving the dispute. “We agree on referendum, yet we blame each other. The masses, however, are dying. We need to have better relationship with our neighbours,” Achakzai said.

He said, “It would be sheer foolishness on our part to expect zero interference from our opposition. We will not be able to complete the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor without peace. We have to make peace with Afghanistan, Iran and India.”

The PkMAP chief said the Afghan issue became global when Soviet forces invaded the country. “Now, we should pardon ourselves from such situations,” he said. “America and our establishment are well aware of whoever they have trained, now they should get rid of them, and if they do not take it seriously, this region will burn to ashes”.

He said Afghanistan’s autonomy shall be respected, or else destruction can take place. “Please repent. Our establishment must step back, must not interfere in elections. Kindly put an end to the game of ‘safe havens’. Learn to trust people, whoever comes with public mandate must be trusted,’’ Achakzai said. If Pakistan, he added, works with sincerity, 60% of issues with Afghanistan will be resolved.