Author: Mubasher Bukhari and Waqar
Gillani
Publication: Daily Times
Date: October 15, 2004
URL: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_15-10-2004_pg7_19
The dispute over Kashmir should
be settled between the governments of Pakistan and India, with the latter
representing Kashmiris, said former Indian prime minister IK Gujral on
Thursday.
"The two governments (of India and
Pakistan) should settle the issue according to the wishes of their respective
nations through peaceful dialogues," Mr Gujral said in an interview to
Daily Times shortly after his arrival from New Delhi for a two-day meeting
of South Asians for Human Rights, of which he is the Indian chapter chairman.
Asked if the people of Kashmir should
be involved in the talks, he said: "Kashmiris are part of the Indian nation
and they do not think different from the rest of the nation." To a question
about the heavy concentration of Indian armed forces in the Kashmir Valley
the possibility of demilitarisation, he said, "I pose a couple of questions
in reply. Why did India heavily militarise the Kashmir Valley? Are the
Indian troops enjoying a picnic there?"
He said people on both sides knew
the reasons for the deployment of the armed forces in Kashmir. About the
peace process between Pakistan and India, he said: "I, as foreign minister
of India, initiated the process with the Nawaz Sharif government in Pakistan
in 1996 as the result of which India softened its visa policy for Pakistanis."
Mr Gujral welcomed the meeting between
Gen Pervez Musharraf and Dr Manmohan Singh in New York, saying there were
good signs that the peace process would have positive results.
He paid tribute to former prime
minister Nawaz Sharif for his role in laying the foundation of friendly
relations between Pakistan and India. "I have high regards for him because
I found him very sincere to the cause of peace between the two countries,
and he deserves credit for it," he said.
"I cannot give any solution to the
Kashmir dispute because this job should be done by both governments. However,
it will take time." He added that the meeting between Gen Musharraf and
Atal Behari Vajpayee had also strengthened the peace process.
He expressed concern about increasing
acts of terrorism in Pakistan and said that he read Pakistani newspapers
everyday and had observed that the whole nation was anxious about terrorism
and wanted its eradication. People everywhere know that terrorism serves
nobody, he added.
Mr Gujral said common Indians wanted
contact with common Pakistanis, so it was the very first duty of the two
governments to bring the two nations closer.
Asked about US interests in peace
between the neighbours, he said Pakistan and India were sovereign states
and able to resolve their disputes without involving a third party. He
suggested that the two governments not involve the media in conveying messages
to each other, but do so through official channels.
About separatist movements in India,
Mr Gujral said that the Indian government was trying to sort it out to
prove itself a true secular democracy.
About SAHR's role in democracy in
the region, he said, "First, bring democracy in Pakistan and then ask me
this question."
