Kashmir issue should be 'addressed earnestly'

Rezaul H Laskar
Islamabad (PTI)- Pakistan on Thursday said
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani told his Indian counterpart
Manmohan Singh that Kashmir and other longstanding issues have
to be addressed "earnestly" and noted their meeting was a
"win-win" event.
"In short, Mohali was a win-win for the Pakistan-India
process of engagement," Foreign Office spokesperson Tehmina
Janjua said, referring to Wednesday's meeting between Gilani
and Singh during the thrilling semi-final match.
Longstanding issues between India and Pakistan,
including the Kashmir issue, have to be "addressed earnestly"
by the two sides while they focus on stability and peace in
the region, Gilani was quoted as saying by Janjua.
"Of course, there are longstanding issues, including
the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, that need to be addressed
earnestly with a view to finding a solution that accords with
the aspirations of the Kashmiri people," Gilani told Singh.
In response to questions that the two leaders had not
referred to the Kashmir issue during their public comments
Wednesday, Janjua said that "Kashmir was discussed in the
context of bilateral relations".
Pakistan is looking at the "entire engagement in a
positive manner" and the two premiers had provided an impetus
to the process, she said.
Januja said Pakistan looks forward to meaningful
progress in the ongoing process.
"We do not under-estimate the difficulties but have
faith and confidence in a bright future for the peoples of our
region," Janjua told a weekly news briefing.
"Constructive engagement is essential so that we move
towards the goal of establishing good neighbourly and
cooperative relations.
"Prime Minister Gilani assured Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh that indeed this was what the government and
people of Pakistan desired," Janjua said.
Talking about the meeting between the two leaders, she
quoted Gilani as having told Singh: "Both sides needed to also
focus on the issues of stability and peace in the region."
Pakistan and India, as two important states in South
Asia, "must endeavour to take ownership for their affairs with
a view to advancing the objectives of stability and peace in
our region and fulfilling the aspirations of the people" of
the region, the premier said.
Gilani also stressed that Pakistan wants to "move
towards a comprehensive and broad-ranging engagement with
India on the basis of equality, mutual trust, mutual interest
and mutual respect".
The Pakistani premier visited Mohali, the venue of the
semi-final won by India, at the invitation of Prime Minister
Singh. The two leaders watched the match together and Singh
also hosted a dinner in Gilani's honour.
The Prime Minister said India and Pakistan face
enormous challenges but also opportunities.
"Our biggest enemy is poverty, ignorance and disease.
If we work together to find cooperative solutions, if we do
not allow ancient animosities to affect the possibility of
working together...I dare say we can write a new chapter in
the history of development cooperation in this subcontinent of
ours.
"And in you we have a leader, a Prime Minister who
inspires confidence," Singh said and hoped that under Gilani's
leadership "democracy will flourish in Pakistan".
"And that we will find peaceful and productive ways of
engaging our two countries in the diverse areas which have
enormous bearing on the future of our two countries and the
wellbeing of our two people", he said.
Stressing the need for bridging the trust deficit,
Singh said "it is essential that at all levels we should work
together. Political personalities must visit each others
countries more often".
Noting that contacts of official and civil society
must be increased, the Prime Minister said that the presiding
officers of Lower House of Indian Parliament, the Lok Sabha,
and the Upper House, Rajya Sabha, have sent invitations to
their counterparts in Pakistan in this regard.
"I dare say in moulding the future climate of opinion,
parliamentarians have a very crucial role to play," he said.