NEW YORK, April 10: Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee said in an interview that India and Pakistan would find solutions to every problem, including Kashmir, when the two countries realized the benefits of peaceful coexistence.
"Both India and Pakistan have to work for this," Mr Vajpayee said in an interview with the Newsweek magazine as he heads into nationwide elections.
Mr Vajpayee observed that the biggest obstacle to peace was mistrust and suspicion.
"Once our two countries interact more regularly, trade with each other and realize the benefits of peaceful coexistence, then we will find solutions to every problem, including our differences on Jammu and Kashmir. Both India and Pakistan have to work for this," Mr Vajpayee added.
On the question whether India and Pakistan relations were set irrevocably on a path toward peace, he said: "We have made a good beginning. For my part, I can say that I have made every possible attempt to promote peace and amicable relations between our two countries."
He noted that "this past January in Islamabad we made another promising start. We would, of course, like to ensure that this opportunity is not squandered."
The Indian leader also pointed out that "the India-Pakistan cricket series has demonstrated how goodwill and friendship can be promoted between the people of India and Pakistan. The political leadership of both countries has to respond to these feelings."
