By NNN-APP
Islamabad : Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri has said the resumption of dialogue between India and Pakistan has provided a unique opportunity to address the contentious issues in a sincere, purposeful and forward-looking manner for a peaceful settlement of all outstanding disputes including the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir.
In an interview with APP on Sunday, the Foreign Minister said Britain left several unresolved issues including that of Kashmir, which continues to be an obstacle in improving relations between Pakistan and India.
He said, “We have made some good progress and come a long way from the tense period in 2001 and 2002.�
Kasuri said the situation is much more stable due to a ceasefire offered to India by Pakistan in November 2003. The two countries have been abiding by this ceasefire along the Line of Control, which also extends to the AGPL (Actual Ground Position Line) on Siachen glacier, he added.
The Foreign Minister said as a result of the peace process and the Composite Dialogue, there has been significant improvement in the atmospherics between the two countries.
High-level contacts have taken place on an unprecedented scale and in addition people to people contacts have improved considerably, he added.
He said the direct bilateral trade has increased from around $200 million to $1,095 million dollars.
Similarly, the bus and train links between the two countries have been made operational, he added.
The Foreign Minister said three rounds of the Composite Dialogue have been held in 2004, 2005 and 2006 respectively and the fourth round commenced on March 13 this year.
He said the most important Kashmir related CBMs include the commencement of Muzaffarabad-Srinagar bus service and opening of five crossing points across the LoC for the divided Kashmiri families.
Kasuri said the window of opportunity in Pak-India relations is narrow as the relationship remains accident-prone because the substantive disputes between the two countries remain to be resolved.
He said President Musharraf’s ideas on Kashmir regarding identification of regions, demilitarization, self-governance and joint mechanism have found support among Kashmiri leadership and intellectuals, including the APHC and have encouraged a lively debate on Kashmir in Pakistan, India and amongst the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Kasuri said the two countries are now at a critical juncture in their bilateral relations. Therefore, it is up to the leadership now to make crucial decisions on which way they wish to take the relationship.
He said Pakistan is striving for a peaceful environment in the region in the interest of its economic development and for raising the living standards of the people.
On Pak-Afghan situation the Minister said Pakistan has deployed over 80,000 troops on long and porous border, with very inhospitable terrain. He said over 85 operations have been conducted and hundreds of Al-Qaeda and Taliban have been captured or killed by Pakistani troops and the country has lost over 700 brave men.
He said securing the Pak-Afghan border is a shared responsibility adding that no single party bears the entire responsibility.
“All sides – Afghanistan, Pakistan, U.S., ISAF, NATO etc. – must do more because it is a collective obligation,â€? he added.
He said Pakistan has a vital stake in Afghanistan’s peace, stability and prosperity as instability in Afghanistan has always had a harmful effect on Pakistan.
Kasuri said Pakistan’s independent position on issues of international importance like Iraq, the Iranian nuclear issue, Lebanon, Iran-Pakistan-India Gas Pipeline, Pakistan’s membership of the ASEAN Regional Forum, increasing engagement with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the conduct and management of difficult relationships with Afghanistan and India, are all signs of an active foreign policy.
He said so far Pakistan has skillfully navigated through these turbulent times.
“We have managed to maintain and improve our relations with all the major powers even though their interests may not always coincide with ours,â€? he added.Â