LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan has said both Pakistan and India should resolve long-standing problems, particularly the Kashmir issue and move forward in developing cordial relations and strengthening trade to alleviate poverty on both sides.

Talking to the media at Lahore airport upon his return from India on Saturday, where he went on an invitation by Indian premier Narendra Modi, Mr Khan said there was no other option left for Pakistan and India but to resolve disputes.

“The leaders of both countries should decide they will no more let any element sabotage the peace process for the sake of well-being of the poor on the both sides as well as in other neighboring countries,” he stressed.

Wants resumption of cricket also

Mr Khan said there were people on both sides who continue hindering the peace process for their vested interests.

“The leaders of both countries should have bigger vision and earn dividends from peaceful and cordial relations for the betterment of their peoples,” he said.

Referring to former foreign minister Khurshid Kasuri’s book, Mr Khan said he told the Indian premier that at one point of time Pakistan and India had reached very close to resolving the Kashmir issue.

The PTI chief said he also raised the issue of plight of minorities in India and told Mr Modi that its impact was also felt in Pakistan and stressed that the Indian leadership should give a clear message to end discrimination against minorities. He said the PTI also believed that minorities were equal citizens and be given equal rights. He said that he also argued that Pakistan and India should continue playing cricket because it brought peoples on both sides closer and that would eventually help reduce tension between the two neighbours.

Mr Khan regretted that India and Pakistan continued blaming each other for terrorism acts in the two countries. Urging the two sides to move forward with “bigger vision”, he said, China had alleviated poverty through creating peace and strengthening trade.

Later, Mr Khan visited the PIA employees’ protest demonstration and assured them of the PTI’s full support.

Published in Dawn, December 13th, 2015