Launch of Kasuri's book: Pakistan, India must settle all disputes through talks

Pakistan and India must settle all disputes including Kashmir through resumption of composite dialogue process. Speakers at the launch of "Neither a Hawk Nor a Dove", a book authored by former foreign minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri, emphasised on continuity of peace dialogue between the two neighbouring countries.
The 900 pages book titled 'Neither a Hawk nor a Dove: An Insider's Account of Pakistan's Foreign Relations Including Details of the Kashmir Framework' has been published by the Oxford University Press (OUP). Former President Pervez Musharraf has said that he was on a hawkish side during dialogue with India in his tenure while his foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri was on the dove side that balanced the whole dialogue process.
He further cited shift of world focus on the region and better utilisation of situation during his tenure that helped his regime in taking a bold stance of initiating dialogue with India. He said that major part of the Kasuri's book dealt with Pakistan relations with India and the United States which is a key in diplomacy.
"Pakistan, India relations were all time best during our dialogue process and we were never so close before in our dialogue process to resolve issues like Sir Kreek, Siachen and Kashmir," he said adding that the first two issues were ready to be resolved any time during their tenure. He, however, regretted that despite coming so close to resolving the issues they were not able to move forward because of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Sindh postponed his due visit to Pakistan in March, 2007.
He also said that he had learned lessons from this dialogue process which included that opportunities come and go but it is the leader who grasps it, the leadership requires sincerity in resolving issues, flexibility and courage and boldness. He further said that Manmohan Singh and Attal Bihari Vajpayee were sincere with the dialogue process. He further cited Kargil issue as best example of results from tactical options and said that it was a military victory turned into a political defeat.
He further thanked Kasuri for clearing a concept that Pakistan Army was not against the resolution of Kashmir issue and peaceful relations with India, however, he said that Army was in favour of resolution of disputes with India in an honourable, dignified manner and with sovereign equality.
Mani Shankar Aiyar said that he came to Karachi first in 1978 and then came again and again for 33 times in the metropolis. "I have discovered a huge constituency of peace in Karachi and there is a desire of peace between the two countries." While welcoming Kauri's book, Aiyar said that it highlights that there is a practical desire of peace on both sides, however, the last successive governments in Pakistan and the incumbent Indian government had not acknowledged the framework on Kashmir issue during Musharraf- Manmohan tenure.
Sudheendra Kulkarni said, "That for three decades Mani Shankar had popularised a slogan that India Pakistan dialogue should be uninterrupted and uninterruptible". He said that if we want peace then the India should recognise Quaid-i-Azam Mohmmad Ali Jinnah as a humanizer while in Pakistan, Gandhi, Nehru and Azad should also be given the same status.
"We need to revisit our history as Kahmir is a core issue between the two nations and it should be addressed in a honourable manner that satisfies the feelings of people in Kashmir," he said adding that India should also realise that how it could held a land for years.
He also urged Narendar Modi and Nawaz Sharif to follow their predecessors, Musharraf and Manmohan Singh, in finding a solution of issues between the two countries. "I have a desire that India and Pakistan should play a test match of peace in which we all get out and where both will win," he said. India's former foreign secretary Salman Haider and Khurshid Kasuri also spoke.