LAHORE, Aug 2: Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Husain said on Monday that Pakistan and India would have to be flexible in their stands on Kashmir in order to settle the decades-old dispute. And in case they stuck to their oft-repeated positions, the dispute would remain unresolved for another 50 years, he said while talking to Dawn at his residence here.
The prime minister said that to make the Kashmir-related talks between the two countries productive, both sides would have to take what he called unpopular decisions. Chaudhry Shujaat said he had conveyed these views to India's Minister for External Affairs Natwar Singh during the latter's recent visit to Islamabad.
"I had a very candid discussion with him. I told him that India should respond to the courageous initiative taken by President Musharraf and take necessary political decisions to make the bilateral talks fruitful."
The prime minister said innocent people were being killed in occupied Kashmir and these killings must end even if both sides had to take some unpopular decisions. Chaudhry Shujaat disclosed that as president of the PML he would visit India in a few months.
Later, he said, he would also visit China. He said both countries had invited him as the head of the ruling party and he would visit the two countries after Mr Shaukat Aziz took over as prime minister.
In response to a question, the prime minister said the role of an 'Islamic force' proposed for Iraq was 'vague' because of which Pakistan could not even think of sending its troops to the war-ravaged country.
He said he had discussed the matter with the Saudi authorities during his recent visit to the kingdom and pointed out the ambiguities in the plan. The prime minister said it was not clear if the proposed Islamic force would replace the multinational force already present in Iraq or it would work with it.
In addition to the Saudi authorities, he said, he had also given his point of view on the subject to many other leaders who had met him in the federal capital. Chaudhry Shujaat Husain said a final decision on the subject would be taken by parliament and the people. He held out an assurance that no 'unpopular decision' would be taken at any cost.
In response to a question, the prime minister said he would hold talks with elements called 'separatists' to allay their misgivings. He was of the view that anybody holding Pakistan's passport could not work against the country.
Some elements in Sindh and Balochistan, the prime minister said, had a sense of deprivation because of which they made some statements which were not liked by other people. He said he would meet all such people in an attempt to change their thinking.
Chaudhry Shujaat said that as prime minister he wanted to set a healthy precedent by joining hands even with political opponents who cared for national interests. He said he was prepared to meet leaders of various parties to seek their cooperation on national issues. However, he made it clear that the government's policy about the exiled leaders remained unchanged.
He said Mian Nawaz Sharif had left the country under an agreement and, therefore, he could not return home. As for Ms Benazir Bhutto, he said, there was no restriction on her to come back, but would have to face cases pending against her.
Answering another question, he said that before quitting as prime minister he would try to give a system so that his successor could use his capabilities to improve national economy and governance, without any fear of the traditional 'leg pulling'.
He said the party would extend all possible cooperation and help to Mr Aziz to enable him to serve the country better.