Pak pitches for composite dialogue

Pakistan on Thursday strongly pitched for resumption of the composite dialogue with India, saying it was “unfair, unrealistic and counter-productive” to allow the issue of terrorism to stall the process of improving relations between the two countries.

After a delegation-level meeting with his Indian counterpart Nirupama Rao here, Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir said Pakistan looks forward to reversing the “tide of regression” that has taken place in the relationship between the neighbours after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

Pakistan foreign secretary Salman Bashir has said that the Indo-Pak talks focused extensively not briefly on Kashmir. Hours after Indian foreign secretary Nirupama Rao and Bashir held parleys, the latter said in a press conference that Pakistan wanted good ties with India and that India’s concerns on terror were valid.

“Kashmir was discussed extensively not briefly... One cannot be really dismissive about the issue of Kashmir; any effort to be dismissive on the issue will not be helpful,” said Bashir minutes after Nirupama Rao held a press conference.

"It is unfair, unrealistic and counter-productive to make issue of terrorism in a generic way and stall the process of overall relations between both the countries." Bashir said. “We are concerned about human right violations in J&K.”

“Pakistan does not believe in cosmetic engagement, Pakistan does not believe that India should lecture us and demand that Pakistan should do this or that,” he said.

Bashir said Pak wanted composite dialogue revived. “India has had one 26/11, we have had a 1000 Mumbais.”

Reacting to India’s demand to arrest Hafiz Saeed, Basjir said: “The docket given by India on Hafiz Saeed is a piece of literature not a dossier”.

“Pakistan looks forward to reversing the tide of regression that has taken place in its relationship with India,” said Bashir. Bashir said Pak is willing to address and resolve Siachen and Sir Creek issues which we believe are do-able. “Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has a vision for peaceful and prosperous South Asia.

There is a huge gap between expectations and mistrust that exists between both the countries today. I have come here to bridge those differences,” he said.

“We will continue to ensure that our territory is not used by anyone against us or any other country,” Bashir said. “To create an optics of dialogue without substance means we are not taking relationship seriously or dealing with issues seriously.”

Mr. Bashir also said the core issue remained Jammu and Kashmir and expressed willingness to address and resolve outstanding issues of Siachen and Sir Creek which he believed were “do-able”.

Both Ms. Rao and Mr. Bashir held separate press meets after their three-and-a-half hour one-to-one and delegation-level talks.

While Ms. Rao said in response to a question that Kashmir figured briefly in the talks, Mr. Bashir disagreed saying it was discussed “extensively”. “It is unfair, unrealistic and counter-productive to make issue of terrorism in a generic way and stall the process of overall relations between both the countries,” Mr. Bashir said.

“To create optics of dialogue without substance means we are not taking (the) relationship seriously or dealing with (the) issues seriously,” he said.

The top diplomat said his country does not believe in “cosmetic engagement” and did not want India to “lecture” them by demanding that Pakistan should “do this or that”.

He was of the view that there was a “huge gap between expectations and mistrust” that exists between both the countries today.

- Asian Tribune -