LAHORE, Dec 22: The Indian decision to recall its high commissioner from Islamabad and suspend train and bus services is “unfortunate but understandable.”

This was stated by former caretaker prime minister Malik Meraj Khalid, former chief minister Hanif Ramay, and former finance minister Dr Mubashir Hasan in a joint statement here on Saturday.

A critical situation has developed in the sub-continent following an attack on the Indian parliament. Pakistan must sympathize with India in this situation, it said.

There are strong hawkish lobbies on both sides of the border that want war instead of peace. In the absence of any check on them, they can easily succeed in their effort. But President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister A.B Vajpayee have so far shown restraint in the face of a tremendous pressure from such lobbies which must be praised, it added. Saner elements from both sides must stand up and be counted; they should spare no effort to counter hawks and strengthen hands of peace-loving leadership, it said.

India and Pakistan have enough internal problems. They must not waste their precious resources on war. A war can be specially devastating given the nuclear capability. It makes them doubly responsible to show greater restraint and tolerance. It also charges them with the duty of immediately starting negotiations to solve all outstanding issues and remove issues, it concluded.