‘Kashmir solution vital for peace’ Kiran Butt

LAHORE: Speakers at an interactive dialogue have urged India to create a conducive environment for internal political peace to initiate a meaningful dialogue to establish peace between the two nuclear neighbours.

Without resolving the core issue of Kashmir, Pakistan and India cannot imagine peace in their region. Pakistan will neither beg for peace nor is it afraid of taking a stand on Kashmir issue, they expressed these views at a roundtable conference titled “Pakistan- India Relations and Way Forward”, organised by Mian Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, former foreign minister and Chairman Pakistan Forum. The general public of both the countries demand peace and want to visit each other in a friendly manner.

Mr OP Shah, Chairman Centre for Peace & Progress, India, was chief guest and Mujeeb-ur-Rehman Shami was the moderator of the event. Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri said, “War is not an option for both the countries. They have to settle down their issues through dialogue. The Indian government has to change its extremist policies and strategies. If they continue to criticise Pakistan, they will lose their public support. The peoples want peace and harmony with their neighbours. Pakistan Army always supports the peace process. As former foreign minister I know that how much efforts our army has put to make dialogue with India successful.”

OP Shah said, “India has a real philosophy of secularism. For last 25 years I have arranged a vegetarian Iftar party for my Muslim friends and in Kolkata. Before coming to Pakistan I visited Srinagar as I frequently visit Kashmir. I know people of Kashmir also want peace and freedom. I asked them that I am going to Pakistan what message should I give them on your behalf and the majority said that both the nations have to stop the border violations. And they should sit on a table and respect each other’s concerns and listen to each other’s grievances with open hearts. Media of both nations has a great responsibility. We have to follow the Gandhi’s rule of dialogue. Gandhi used to say that we have to be truthful for convincing people. I am not a political person or the representative of the government; therefore, I can assert that people on both sides of the border need peace and they want to travel to each other’s country. The civil society from both the sides has played an important role in peace and dialogue process. Kashmir is a conflict and it has to be handled with total care. A single party cannot take any decision alone without taking opposition in confidence. And we know there are voices in India who do not want the dialogue and peace with Pakistan.”

IA Rehman said,” Everyone will second the thought of peace. Dialogue is compulsory for peace.” Lt-Gen (retd) Ghulam Mustafa said, “Pakistan will not beg for peace. India has to understand that in coming years Pakistan will be more strong and stable due to CPEC and other projects. We have to respect the choice and freedom of Kashmiri people.”

Brig (retd) Farooq said,” We cannot ignore this fact that Indian High Commissioner is being summoned at the Foreign Office daily due to a violation of border and harassment of Pakistan’s diplomats in India. We can see extremism building there.” Shahid Malik, former High Commissioner of Pakistan in India said, “At the time of Mumbai attacks dialogue was going on and that was the best dialogue so far. But now the situation is worse. People are not getting visas for India even for medical purposes. One bad thing happens and it disrupts any progress made towards talks between the two countries. Everyone has to sit down and think about the people and their well-being.” Media representatives and diplomats had a question-answer session and they all agreed to this agenda that people of both nations deserve peace and love.