By IANS,
New Delhi : Following are the highlights of Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari’s video address to the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit Saturday:
No first use of nukes: Says Pakistan will not be the first to use nuclear weapons against India in case of a conflict. Proposes a wider South Asian non-nuclear treaty.
It’s economics, stupid!: Backs more trade and economic engagement between India and Pakistan. “Let’s open each other’s border and trade. We can both mutually benefit from trade. If you can trade with China, why not with Pakistan?” Hopes that that India and Pakistan would become an economically unified zone like the EU.
Future strategy: Has approached Pakistan’s parliament for the constitution of a caucus that could go into all the problems between India and Pakistan, including the Kashmir issue.
Kashmir issue: “Let the people of India and let the people of Pakistan decide. Let’s take the challenge to the people of India and Pakistan.”
People-to-people contacts: Supports visa-free travel, proposes e-card. “We could have special card of some sort – an e-card which you show at the border and just walk in.”
Little Bit of India: “There is a little bit of an Indian in every Pakistani and a little bit of a Pakistani in every Indian. And therefore the two countries should join together and help each other,” he said.
Pakistan no threat to India: “We shall take Pakistan-India relationship to a new level. I do not feel threatened by India and India should not feel threatened from us.”
“Today we have a parliament which is already pre-agreed upon a friendly relationship with India.”
“In spite of our disputes, we have a great future together.”
Culture: Backs opening of the movie industry between the two countries. Says he is a fan of Indian film star Madhuri Dixit. Currently, there are restrictions on the screening of Indian films in Pakistan and vice-versa.