September 15, 2003	Monday	Rajab 17, 1424

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)

NEW DELHI, Sept 14: Pakistan sees the unresolved issue of Kashmir as a key hurdle to normal ties with India, including bilateral trade, Islamabad’s High Commissioner to New Delhi, Mr Aziz Ahmed Khan told a meeting of businessmen from the two countries on Sunday.

Speaking after somewhat emotional appeals by the heads of the two delegations to enhance trade between their countries to create a constituency for peace between them, the Pakistan envoy strove to bring a degree of realism to the prospects ahead.

“In regions where political climate is marred by acrimony, confrontation and deep distrust, economic cooperation is usually the first casualty,” he declared. “This universally established reality is fully manifest in the South Asian context.”

Mr Khan said relations between Pakistan and India, the two major countries of the region, remained hampered by deep-rooted suspicion and distrust.

“One single issue that has influenced our relations for over half a century is the non-resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute,” the envoy said. “Failure to address this most crucial issue is the main reason for the state of cooperation and relations as they exist today.”

In this context, the peace initiative taken by the two prime ministers in April this year had generated enthusiasm at the popular level that finally the two countries would be able to break their impasse on Kashmir and other irritants that divide the two countries.

But the progress was disappointing. “After five months, all the hopes and expecta-tions remain unrealized,” Mr Khan lamented.

He expressed concern that the enthusiasm and goodwill generated at the public level for the beginning of a new era of cooperation and amity between the two countries could stall due to slow progress over concrete steps on the ground to take the process forward.

“Pakistan believes that this groundswell of goodwill on both sides of the border must not be allowed to dissipate,” Mr Khan said.

“We must seize the moment and respond with alacrity to the popular mood which supports peace and cooperation between the two countries. We have to move at a faster pace, at the official level, to engage in a comprehensive dialogue,” he said.

Such a dialogue would be part of a result-oriented process covering all aspects of bilateral relations so as to turn acrimony and confrontation into peace and amity.

“Pakistan firmly believes that development of tension-free and cooperative relations between the two countries is not only in the best interest of regional peace and security, but is also a must for the economic well-being and social development of our people,” Mr Khan said.

There were infinite opportunities for economic cooperation between India and Pakistan and other countries of South Asia.

“It is extremely distressing that South Asia, which is home to the world’s most enterprising and talented manpower remains mired in abject poverty, under-development, illiteracy, disease and similar ills.

“The governments, corporate leaders and men of conscience have an abiding obligation to improve the lot of our people by expanding opportunities and allocating resources for the economic development and well-being of the people,” Mr Khan said. “This can only be achieved in an atmosphere of peace and understanding.”

Pakistan, he said, believed that efficient communication links and level playing field were two paramount requirements for a sustainable economic cooperation between the countries of South Asia.

“As a first step towards reviving and strengthening economic cooperation, we must restore and even expand the communication links between the two sides.

“Unless rail, road and air links are fully operational, meaningful economic cooperation will remain elusive despite our best intentions,” Mr Khan said.

YASHWANT SINHA: Speaking on the occasion, Indian Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha said that New Delhi and Islamabad must end their frequent verbal duels at international forums to help forge an atmosphere for peace, and the best place to test this resolve would be the coming UN session.

“The practice of turning every international and multilateral forum into a battleground to attack each other should end,” Mr Sinha told an inaugural meeting of the India-Pakistan Business Forum.

Mr Sinha said India’s foreign policy was not Pakistan-centric. “At the same time we hope that Pakistan will also succeed in shedding its obsession with India.”

India he said welcomed a move by the Confederation of Indian Industry, hosts of the business meeting, to organize an exhibition of Pakistani products in India soon.