President, Awami National Party (ANP), Asfandyar Wali Khan, who recently visited India, says Pakistan and India "must resume full dialogue and must give and take."
"Our stand is to let things be decided by governments across the table. But there is no logic to say I will not progress an inch and you must show progress. The solution to problems is that you have to give and take. But how much you have to give and how much you are prepared to take can only be decided across the table," he told Tehelka.com special correspondent Iftikhar Gilani in New Delhi which was posted Saturday on its website.
"There is a difference in perception. What you see from far away may not be correct. I am part of the working team. So I am stating facts on the basis of ground realities. Both countries have got used to and believe their own perceptions. But I want to tell you again categorically, Pakistan Army wants good relations with India. The political and military establishments are on same wavelength on this. First and foremost, we have to sit across the table. Then we will know the stakes. In an environment where we have snapped relations, it is not possible to foresee the stakes and price of peace. When you don't sit with me, how would you know what I want."
To a question, Afsandyar said, "there are lots of ghosts who don't want peace (between Pakistan & India). An individual creates trouble and when there is no confidence, such incidents lead to an immediate breaking of ties. Before Mumbai happened we had reached a certain point. Dialogue was taking place. There was hope that things were returning to normalcy. And then came Mumbai attacks. We were not only back to square one, but nose-dived to minus."
"Intelligence sharing is a must for both countries. If you want a relationship that is not affected by such impediments, intelligence sharing is critical. I would make that demand of both governments. Let us share our information and intelligence. Information sharing and intelligence sharing is a must for building confidence."
ANP Chief said Pakistan couldn't withdraw its forces from its eastern border along with India beyond a certain point. "We don't have enough forces to fight extremists in Swat, Bajour, Bonair, other places. If we are satisfied that our eastern borders are safe, we can move our forces to fight inimical elements with full might. A former general told me India was ready to give a guarantee to America that it will not create trouble for Pakistan if it wants to thin its force. We don't need a guarantee from Americans. Why can't both of us sit and be a guarantee for each other."
"As I have said, intelligence sharing and information sharing is mandatory. Then, we have to make a difference between state and non-state actors. I cannot hold the state responsible for the acts of non-state actors. You say Laskhar-e-Toiba (LeT) is involved in Mumbai attacks. Ok, I agree. But do you know how many soldiers of my army the LeT has killed? Have you asked me? You raise a stink over LeT involvement in Mumbai. But I ask you, what did you do to stamp out the LeT?
"This group targeted a mosque near the GHQ in Rawalpindi. Our senior officers and their children, who were praying in the mosque, were killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up in the mosque. Children of our serving generals were killed in this attack. Colonels and majors were killed. A 26-year-old son of the then Corps Commander was ripped apart. His torn body was handed over to the general. I don't say that your complaints are unfounded. But you must understand that what happens in Pakistan may not take much time to cross over to India. Pakistan Army is fighting the LeT. They are killing our soldiers and now you make me responsible for acts of the people who are killing and maiming my children. Is it justice? If there is information sharing, such acts may not take place. I want to underline this. Acts of non-state actors should not be counted as acts of the state."
When asked that US is not happy with Pakistan's operations against militants, Asfandyar said "it is easy to tell people you are not doing enough. Every other day suicide bombers in Pakistan target people and the Army. You know, British learned local tradition and didn't violate local customs and rules. Now this superpower, the US, walks in and says to hell with your culture. We are here and you have to obey. So there are people who defy them. Afghanistan has never tolerated foreign occupation. US-backed resistance against the Soviets destroyed basic structures of governance in Afghanistan. In the mosque, Moulvi ruled and took care of religious affairs. In hujra, malik used to sit and decide on worldly affairs. After the Soviet invasion, the hujra's powers went to the Moulvi."