Pakistan High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Dr Maleeha Lodhi said on Saturday that South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (Saarc) summit gave Pakistan and India a historic opportunity to kick start resumption of a formal dialogue process.
Pakistan has initiated a series of confidence-building measures which are significant sign posts for de-escalating of tension between the two countries, she said in an interview with BBC Radio here.
"But what is missing and what is lacking is a dialogue process between the two countries which can enable them to address the outstanding issues and the disputes between the two countries," she said.
Maleeha said it was important to look at the Saarc summit as an historic opportunity for the two countries to meet and agree to resume the dialogue process in a formal sense.
Saarc summit was important as it also helped the countries of the region push the process of regional co-operation. She said: "When political relations between New Delhi and Islamabad are better the prospects for regional co-operation are also better."
"Under this approach both sides should accept that there is a dispute and begin a sustained dialogue process and they reject which is totally unacceptable to the other side."
The first step was to look for the solution of Kashmir within the parameters that are left after such a process.
Maleeha said Pakistan had already made many overtures. "We have made sure signs of flexibility, she said, adding, "I think it is now for the Indians to respond and reciprocate."
President General Pervez Musharraf, she said, had made it very clear that, "he and the agenda he has outlined for peace on our borders and peace within Pakistan's frontiers will not be affected by any political deal which may have been struck in recent weeks."
"There is an overall political consensus in Pakistan among the political parties, with the army and as for as public opinion is concerned that to move forward in the region, requires a political approach and a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir dispute and that is exactly what President Musharraf is proposing to India," said Dr Maleeha.
Responding to a question she said the ruling Muslims League (Q) was not dependent on the support of the Islamic parties to survive in office as it had a comfortable majority in the National Assembly.
However, the religious parties had supported the constitutional changes, which were now part of the Constitution.
Comments
Comments are closed.