Kashmir dispute not on backburner: Pakistan envoy
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NEW DELHI: Pakistan wants to have normal ties with India but not at the cost of Kashmir’s legitimate aspirations, a cause it will never abandon howsoever long it takes to bear fruit, Pakistan’s envoy in India said here on Friday.
High Commissioner Abdul Basit was speaking at an Independence Day ceremony at the Delhi mission. His comments coincided with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tweet in which he greeted the people of Pakistan on their independence day.
“Greetings & good wishes to the people of Pakistan on their Independence Day,” Mr Modi said.
At the ceremony, Mr Basit said: “Pakistan (has) always wanted to have a normal and cooperative relationship with India. To this end, it was necessary to settle all the outstanding issues, particularly the Jammu & Kashmir dispute.”
The comments came as both countries prepared for an August 23-24 meeting in Delhi between their national security advisers.
“Aspirations of the people of Jammu & Kashmir could neither be ignored nor put on the backburner. No matter how much more time does their legitimate struggle take, Pakistan will never abandon Kashmiris and their cause,” Mr Basit said.
The High Commissioner added that it was also essential to create a congenial bilateral environment by “eschewing stereotypes and self-serving propaganda”.
He also spoke of far-reaching changes taking place in Pakistan, stressing that the resilient people of Pakistan had always come out of difficult challenges with a vengeance. Pakistan’s economy was now showing encouraging signs of recovery.
“The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor was testimony to Pakistan’s potential and unparalleled opportunities the country offered for investment.” The High Commissioner said Pakistan was destined to become a regional economic hub to the benefit of all the regional countries and beyond.
Students of the Pakistan High Commission School presented a colourful programme based on national songs and tableau.
India responded to Mr Basit’s comments with a strong dismissal. “The only struggle in J-K is against Pakistani-sponsored terrorism. This will be the subject of the upcoming NSA-level talks,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.
Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2015
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Comments (41) Closed
Aug 15, 2015 08:15am
We Kashmiris cant be silenced forever.
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Aug 15, 2015 08:19am
shabash mr Basit pakistani+kashmiri=pakistani one united pakistan
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Aug 15, 2015 08:20am
Same old story. Talks start, then stop.
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Aug 15, 2015 08:21am
Yes because that's the bread and butter for politicians.
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Aug 15, 2015 08:50am
Lets be honest & realistic. Neither India, nor Pakistan will give up an inch of the Kashmir they currently occupy. We have two choices: Either we make the LoC a permanent border, demilitarize the whole area & work to make the borders irrelevant (along the Musharraf proposal) and live happily ever after or we continue the status quo, while the Kashmiris can keep struggling for generations & India and Pakistan can keep fighting and there will be no end to this.
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Aug 15, 2015 09:18am
Kashmir issue won't be settled to complete satisfaction of any party involved. All parties should be prepared for compromise, and ignoring the geopolitical situation won't lead anywhere.
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Aug 15, 2015 09:20am
What is fun of keep on saying same thing everyday, nothing happen on ground level though
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Aug 15, 2015 09:24am
Iam not expecting a big break through immediately. But hope at least border tension will come down which will make life easy for the people living close to the borders in both sides.
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Aug 15, 2015 09:56am
I m indian, if today any politician says in india that we will take whole Kashmir from pak,,, it seems childish
Similarly pakistani people (especialy educated youth) must understand this thing if any one says they wil take whoke kashmir
From india means he is just fooling u people,,,
Solution of kashmir is loc must be considered as international border between two nation,,,,
As European countries did ,lots of European countries dnt their prasent border but they have to accept it for peace
Similary for indian and pakistani it is hard to accept loc as international border but they wil have to accept it,,,,
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Aug 15, 2015 10:04am
Agreed High Commissioner, but don't burn it either.
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Aug 15, 2015 10:07am
Believe it or not neither Pakistan nor India can take each others part of Kashmir ...only one and ultimate solution for this problem is develop Kashmir by each side and believe that our future generation will be more sensible and find a way out
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Aug 15, 2015 10:28am
@jaggi Fully agree with you. It is the ONLY practical solution, to recognise the existing border as the international border. The political leaders of both the countries are just fooling the citizens, claiming whole of Kashmir to themselves.
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Aug 15, 2015 10:33am
@Harsh No fun, but it works for them everytime..
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Aug 15, 2015 10:43am
Even if kashmir problem is solved nothing will jappen in relationship. Kashmir is not the issue, the issue is animosity between two countries. Kashmir will mot have any effect on the relationship.
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Aug 15, 2015 10:49am
People living along other side of line of control or occupied Kashmir should be permitted to use both indian rupees and pakistan rupees as in Nepal and let it be like that only. Other part of Kashmir is controlled by India and in entire Kashmir, both countries should try for peace hormoney and happiness.
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Aug 15, 2015 11:18am
I am totally agree with you sarabjit Singh
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Aug 15, 2015 11:22am
It means politicians will continue to fool people and divert their attention from failures.Please do prosperity and educate youth , give jobs. That should be our priority.
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Aug 15, 2015 11:31am
Changing the borders through force is NO more feasible. Since borders are the real problem for India and Pakistan, both should work towards making them irrelevant and it can be achieved through economic development.
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Aug 15, 2015 11:52am
There we go again...one step forward, two step backward.
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Aug 15, 2015 12:06pm
Disputed Kashmir is the biggest serial drama now entering in its 69th year. Best if it is forgotten as it has been the source of wastage of resources on arming the borders and a useful tool for politicians to divert attention from the real issues. Why not expend same energy and budget on education and poverty eradication.
Nothing is going to be resolved in hundreds of years to come. Let us move on please.
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Aug 15, 2015 12:12pm
@SUNIL
It all depends what compromise you are referring to!
I think resolving Kashmir will eventually become a higher priority once India realizes that permanent route to security council membership goes through it.....
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Aug 15, 2015 12:32pm
@SUNIL first sensible comment from an indian. Took a long time on this forum, but you have seen the light. But Ultimate result must satisfy kashmiris, not only pakistan and India.
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Aug 15, 2015 01:23pm
@Gurpreet Singh Sabharwal (USA) borders are always variable between nations throughout the history. its just a matter of time....
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Aug 15, 2015 01:48pm
Kashmir is the issue to be in power or to make money. Is not it ?
Otherwise, it will remain same for hundred years.
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Aug 15, 2015 02:24pm
LOC is pretty much the de facto border. Creating an Special Economic Zone trade corridor aling the LOC and at strategic locations along the rest of the border would pay huge dividends. It would encourage both trade and people to people contact. These politicians can continue to rattle their blunted sabres.
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Aug 15, 2015 02:38pm
this story drive to me in childhood.when there was only one channel which was ptv.these were the stories we listened daily.
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Aug 15, 2015 03:11pm
Let the original residents of Kashmir(Kashmiri pandits) decide what they want.not the one who settled there from outside.
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Aug 15, 2015 03:43pm
Apart from the obvious reasons both indian n pak want Kashmir, there is the u issue of water sharing for pak and security and trade for India. Let the solution b like this:
Pak gets to keep 50% of azad kashmir n GB and India gets to keep 50% of th their side i.e. jammu n ladakh.rest of the 50% in both sides will b a fully autonomous region where trade n tourism will flourish n earnings shared. India will ensure rivet sharing n pak will ensure security. Kashmiris will get preference in jobs in the autonomous region. What do ya all say?
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Aug 15, 2015 04:40pm
@An Indian it's about humanity and kashmiris. Value of blood over power and money. That's where India and Pakistan's views collide.
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Aug 15, 2015 05:07pm
@Tahir A
Kashmir is one issue that is draining the resources of both countries and both nations are hopelessly pouring their funds on these people who will agitate even if they are independent.Both nations must stop this and instead concentrate on other parts of nation which is more profitable and will benefit millions.
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Aug 15, 2015 05:07pm
Pakistan needs to put someone like Hina Rabbani Khar as a forefront negotiator in this sticky issue to add freshness and glamour. Basit Sahib does not seem to have the right image and blend.
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Aug 15, 2015 05:28pm
@Babbi guy I am sure there are many people on either side who are dissatisfied and think the grass is greener on the other side and either want freedom or want to switch sides. The most logical thing is to let them go not their land. If I don't like where I live I should move. But it's this encouraging that I see from your side that makes us feel like they don't deserve to be our friends
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Aug 15, 2015 05:34pm
@Gurpreet Singh Sabharwal (USA)
3rd option let Kashmir people decide what they want to do
Stay with India
Go with Pakistan
Go on their own
But india knows the answer to that so they keep on saying will talk but they don't want to sort this issue
So I am afraid it's going to be the same.
But I pray I am wrong
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Aug 15, 2015 06:20pm
@Gurpreet Singh Sabharwal (USA) I agree with you but we should ask this question to people who live in that region. Let's have a refrendum
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Aug 15, 2015 06:46pm
Front burner, back burner, left burner or right burner. We can keep saying that and nothing ever comes off it except burnt food. For heavens sake let us move on and concentrate on improving our country and economy so that we will become a true twenty first century nation.
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Aug 15, 2015 07:39pm
@khan_lala , in that case let the time balance the variables and solve the equation.
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Aug 15, 2015 07:54pm
To comply with UN Resolution let Pakistani military vacate AJK and Gilgit, then let India's military to vacate Kashmir. Then let Pundits, Sikhs and other populations come back to Kashmir who were driven out. Then let there be plebiscite under UN supervision. However Pakistan has to give up AJK and Gilgit first which was under the rule of Maharajah of Kashmir. Who will bell the cat?
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Aug 15, 2015 07:57pm
@Baber Gul it's not about image but substance of the matter.
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Aug 15, 2015 09:36pm
Our envoy on a fool's errand vis-a-vis J&K. The sooner we address our internal social & economic woes rather than some obscure quirk of history, now an irrelevant heritage, that has occupied large amount of our effort, time and funds the better it would be for all concerned.
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Aug 17, 2015 01:14am
Provinces divided by the Brits include Bombay(1930),Bengal, Punjab. Unfortunatly India ate two third of Kashmir on the same analogy
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Aug 18, 2015 10:03am
@Babbi guy Indian membership in security council has nothing to do with Kashmir; it is the size of Indian economy.
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