KARACHI, Feb 6: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain on Monday expressed the apprehension that Pakistan was drifting towards isolation, and stressed the need for immediately initiating dialogue for overcoming the Balochistan crisis.

In a statement issued from the party’s London secretariat, Mr Hussain said that if sincere efforts towards narrowing down mutual differences and promoting amity were not made, the country could encounter a grave situation.

He observed that the geo-political strategic situation in South Asia was changing very fast almost similar to the one that had drifted the world towards the two world wars. The International Atomic Energy Agency’s stand on Iran’s nuclear programme and the response of the Iranian government had further aggravated the situation. On the other hand, he added, activities of Taliban forces had picked up in Afghanistan whereas the United States and other western countries were coming closer to India and Pakistan was drifting towards isolation.

At the same time, he said, the situation in Waziristan, Bajaur, and Gilgit-Baltistan was far from peace and the country was facing derailment due to attacks by terrorists who had not spared busses and important installations in Balochistan.

Innocent men, women and children are being killed in the confrontation between the resistance and the law enforcement agencies, according to him. Mr Hussain said it was imperative for peace and integrity of the country that a dialogue process was immediately initiated to save the country from tragic consequence. “If the government can start peace process with India for resolving the Kashmir issue, why cannot it do the same in the case of Balochistan to prevent the situation from drifting to a point of no return?” he argued.

BLAST: MQM coordination committee has urge the president and prime minister to take notice of Kolpur bus blast and ensure arrest of culprits at the earliest. In a statement, the committee condemned the attack and conveyed its condolences to the bereaved families and expressed sympathy to those injured in the blast.