Pakistan's High Commissioner to United Kingdom (UK) Ms Maleeha Lodhi commenting on Pakistan, India talks has said a great deal depends on the kind of flexibility India is prepared to show.
The peace process would not have been possible without the leadership and statesmanship showed by both by President General Pervez Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister AB Vajpayee, she told the BBC TV.
Maleeha expressed hope that enough understanding between Pakistan and India has been developed for taking the peace process forward.
"The process would not be hostage to a single incident or action of the people who may want to derail the peace process."
"The two sides are committed to taking the peace process forward as it is like a bicycle. It has to keep moving forward otherwise it falls," she said.
"We have endured a long kind of confrontation the world has witnessed two years ago. So, I think what we heard in the joint announcement is an important milestone because the transition from what seem to have been a piecemeal confidence-building process to a peace process," she added.
KASHMIRIS: "The kind of suffering that Kashmiri people have gone through, how their sufferings can be alleviated. I would say our touchstone and our acid test is going to be whether a solution is acceptable to the people of Kashmir," she said.
Terming initiation of peace process between India and Pakistan a good omen, Maleeha said it was a moment of hope, opportunity and promise. Both sides must also be careful not to allow expectations to run ahead of reality.
"Pakistan has a tough task in front of it. Although it's a good beginning but hard work still lies ahead and we are certainly hopeful that patient diplomacy with statesmanship on both sides and accommodation will be able to resolve outstanding disputes, including the dispute of Kashmir," she added.
For Pakistan the most important priority and concern were the people of Kashmir, their sentiments, wishes and desires. President Musharraf has proposed a four-step approach to finding a peaceful solution of Kashmir.
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