18 October 2004	Monday	03 Ramazan 1425

LAHORE, Oct 17: Former Indian prime minister I K Gujral emphasized on Sunday the need for developing friendly and trade relations between Pakistan and India, rejecting the notion that resolution of the Kashmir dispute was necessary for the purpose.

Mr Gujral who had come to Lahore to attend the two-day moot on South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR) as its chairperson was speaking at a Press conference at Wagah before his departure home. He was flanked by SAHR co-chairperson Asma Jahangir and its members from other SAARC countries.

Earlier in the day, Mr Gujral called on Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri and Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi.

"What is the link of Kashmir with this," he replied when asked whether peace between the two countries was possible without the resolution of the dispute.

The question was asked after Mr Gujral had remarked that there should be people-to-people contact and trade between the two countries which had no option but to develop friendship.

He said the South Asian countries had no future unless they moved together. And this could not happen without understanding the strong and weak points of each other. "India is the largest country in the region and, therefore, it should give some concessions. But, no Indian government can dare give concessions on secularism or territory," he made it clear.

When asked as to which power was hampering the positive outcome of the long dialogue between the two countries, Mr Gujral said this was nothing but the hangover of the around 100-year acrimony between them.

"Their people have been following the philosophies of Gandhi and Pakistan for the past around 100 years and removing such differences is not easy. The most important thing is that efforts are being made to achieve this goal," he said.

When asked what was the Indian policy towards Pakistan during Indira Gandhi regime in which he was a minister, he said from the very beginning he held the idea that Pakistan and India were two sovereign states which did not mean that they were enemies.

"They have many things in common like language, religions and history and no-one is trying to disturb anybody's sovereign status," he said while urging both the countries to buy low-cost things from their neighbourhood instead of far-off countries.

Mr Gujral said during his meeting with Pakistani foreign minister they agreed that talks between the two countries must succeed. "But neither he nor me can foresee the result of the negotiations," he said.

He said leaders of both the countries had been agreeing that there was a need to slowly move towards the creation of a South Asian community and the ASEAN and European Union like arrangements without which they could not progress. Despite the changes in governments in both the countries over the years the dialogue between them was going on and "this gives hope."

Mr Gujral said he found many improvements in Lahore. The attitude of the people, especially the younger generation, had changed. He received rare attention and warmth during his address to the Lahore High Court Bar Association and this was the result of the continuity of the people-to-people contact, he said.

He said he also found atmosphere congenial for talks and the tricking down of its impact to the people. "The warmth I received during my two-day stay here can touch any heart. Let the people of both the countries meet (freely) across the border and without any visa," he said.

Mr Gujral praised the streets of Lahore and their cleanliness, and the Food Street where he dined last night.

Ms Asma Jahangir said the SAHR had proposed the establishment of a centre of excellence where children of the region would be taught by teachers of the member countries. There should be no visa restriction for the South Asian people, she said.

She said the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and other rights bodies had been arranging for the exchange of individual prisoners between Pakistan and India but it actually required the signing of a protocol between the two countries for evolving a permanent institutional system in this regard.

She said Mr Gujral had brought a a list of 61 Indians who were jailed in Quetta and Lahore after they were pushed into Pakistani territory by Iran.

Mr Gujral said according to their families the Indians were being smuggled to Europe but were intercepted by Iran which pushed them back to Pakistan.

Ms Asma said the Indian high commission should also issue a passport to an Indian woman confined in Lahore's Kot Lakhpat Jail so that she could return home. Two other Indian women prisoners had lost their mind during the incarceration, she said.