International community facilitation for resolving Kashmir issue: Wajid

   

London: Pakistan’s envoy to the UK Wajid Shamsul Hasan has impressed upon the international community to facilitate in resolving the Kashmir dispute saying that recent Mumbai incident has cost the peace process with India dearly.

 

Speaking at a discussion on “Post Mumbai‑Peace not War” organised by All Party Parliamentary Group on Third World Solidarity at the House of Commons Monday evening, he said it was due to the peace process between the two neighbouring countries that the bilateral relations had improved significantly.

 

“Trade routes across LOC and the international borders had started and gained momentum. Regular bus service across the LOC had united divided families after many decades,” he pointed out.

 

He spoke of President Asif Ali Zardari’s offer of economic union and easing visa restrictions and other measures to further strengthen the relations between the two countries prior to the Mumbai incident.

 

Regrettably, the High Commissioner noted that all hard work carried out under the framework of the composite dialogue since 2004 has come to a grinding halt in the post Mumbai period.

 

He expressed hope that India would not fall for the terrorists vicious tactics of derailing the peace process and resume the dialogue as early as possible.

 

At the same time, he said Pakistan expects the international community to play its part in resolving the Kashmir issue which remains the oldest unresolved dispute in the world.

 

“We fully share British Foreign Secretary David Miliband’s views expressed during his recent visit to New Delhi that resolution of Kashmir issue would help deny extremists in the region one of their main calls to arms and allow Pakistani authorities to focus more effectively on tackling the threats on their western borders.”

 

Hasan said Pakistan Government, Parliament and the political parties had strongly condemned the Mumbai attacks. “We believe that terrorism is a problem afflicting all of us and calls for a cooperative approach for preventing the recurrence of such incidents in future.”

 

The High Commissioner said sharing India’s concerns Pakistan has offered co‑operation to reach the bottom of the matter as well as joint investigation apart from starting its own probe.

 

He spoke about the number of steps taken by the Pakistan Government to fulfil its international obligations such as banning Jamat‑ud‑Dawa and Lashkar‑e‑Tayyaba and the arrest of its figure heads.

 

Hasan said the findings of the investigation by the Pakistani authorities have been handed over to India and further response from India was awaited.

 

He asserted that the best way to defeat terrorists’ machinations would be for Pakistan and India to enter into more cooperation.

 

We look towards our friends in the international community to help break the present deadlock in the peace process and not allow terrorists sabotage our quest for enduring peace and security in the region.”

 

Former Labour Party Foreign Secretary Sir Gerald Kaufmann described Kashmir as the “most dangerous conflict on the planet” and urged both President Barack Obama and the US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton to use their good offices in resolving the dispute.

 

He said the forthcoming London Summit of G‑8 leaders must take up this issue and it should be on the agenda of the conference.

 

Sir Gerald said “this situation of illogical folly” must not be allowed to prevail and time has come for the international community to a key role in settling the Kashmir problem which left unresolved may lead to more terrorist attacks.

 

Lord Nazir Ahmed while condemning the Mumbai attacks urged India to consider Pakistan as an equal partner in resolving the outstanding issues facing the two countries.

 

He was of the view the appeasement policy on Kashmir by the previous Pakistani administration  did not satisfy the extremists  and the Mumbai incident has highlighted the need for a resolution of Kashmir conflict on urgent and practical basis.    

 

Agha Murtaza Poya, Vice Chairman, Pakistan Awami Tehreek, urged India to change its attitude and live in peace with Pakistan. He said Pakistan has continued to bend backwards to appease India which must alter its domineering behaviour.

 

Journalist Saundra Satterlee spoke of the need for both India and Pakistan to reduce their defence expenditure and concentrate on eliminating poverty and improving the living standard of their respective people.

 

However, she said this could be possible when the issue over the disputed Himalayan region is resolved according to the wishes and aspirations of the people.

 

Dave Anderson MP and Councillor Mushtaq Lasharie chaired the event.

 

 

February 24, 2009