Talks only way to resolve Kashmir issue: Pervaiz Rashid

ISLAMABAD: Information and Broadcasting Minister Pervaiz Rashid said on Saturday the Kashmir issue could not be resolved through a static approach, saying new ways must be explored to find the way out.

Speaking here at a roundtable conference here under Kashmir Think Tank, the minister said that former Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpyee had travelled to Pakistan and a headway was made on resolution of the issue, but it was sabotaged. He said the prime minister was seen with apprehensions and the process was sabotaged by a person, whose fate was before all now, whose one wrong decision sabotaged the entire process.

Regarding the government’s policy on Kashmir issue, he maintained that Pakistan wanted a peaceful solution to the Kashmir issue and would continue supporting Kashmiris.

The minister contended that any international issue could not be resolved with static approach and new ways must be explored to resolve the disputes. He said that war offered no solution to any problem and insisted Kashmir should be resolved through talks. However, he was quick to add that Kashmir problem could be resolved only in line with the wishes of people of Kashmir. The minister maintained that a legal way needed to be adopted to find the resolution of the long-standing problem.

The minister was confident that a headway on Kashmir problem could be possible during the tenure of the incumbent government. About elections in Occupied Kashmir, the minister said that any interference by India would be questioned by the international community and New Delhi would have to explain to the comity of nations.

Earlier, the convener of APHC Pakistan chapter Mir Tahir Masood supported the decision by Pakistan and India to formally resume the dialogue process. 

However, he emphasised that there should be talks simultaneously on Kashmir and other issues. He added all other issues, like pulling out forces from Siachen Glacier would automatically be resolved, if significant headway would be made on Kashmir dispute.

He cautioned that people of Kashmir and 200 million Pakistanis would not allow Pakistan to give trade corridor to India by putting Kashmir problem aside.

The APHC convener said the impact of talks between Islamabad and New Delhi should be seen in Occupied Kashmir and the issue must be resolved as per aspirations of Kashmiris.

Referring to Lahore meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, he said it did not happen all of a sudden.

Tahir Masood contended that the meeting took place in the backdrop of a chain of events, including Ufa meeting, Prime Minister Sharif’s strong statement in New York and a meeting between the National Security Advisers of the two countries.

He pointed out that India’s aggressive posturing also resulted in electoral defeat of BJP in Bihar, Indian capital and elsewhere and it was also instrumental in forcing Prime Minister Modi to review his approach towards Pakistan.