ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is keen for his Indian counterpart to visit Pakistan before the next Indian elections due by May, but it could all end up as wishful thinking due to imposing problems, not the least their respective hawks and naysayers, Dawn daily reported yesterday quoting sources watching this week’s talks between the two countries.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is widely expected to demit office next year after completing two successive terms. His previous initiatives to normalise ties with Pakistan were stymied by rightwing Hindu revivalist adversaries and also by hawks within his own party.
It is learnt, the report said, that the Congress party may have given the prime minister complete control of the Pakistan policy, which is potentially the single most encouraging development for any early resumption of peace talks. In that case the truly insurmountable problem is the agenda.
What would each side have to offer the other? Theoretically, Pakistan could see the conviction of a clutch of Muslim extremists in the next few months who were allegedly involved in the Mumbai terror attacks. If that happens, it could help create an improved atmosphere for Dr Singh to justify a visit.
Earlier, Pakistan said it wanted resumption of dialogue process with India for the resolution of all outstanding issues including Kashmir issue.
Foreign Office Spokesman Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry in his weekly briefing,relayed by the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) said Kashmir is the core issue between the two countries and its solution lies in dialogue process. He said the Kashmiri leadership should also be part of the dialogue. He said that Islamabad has always extended moral, diplomatic and political support to the Kashmiri people for their right to self determination.
He said ongoing repression of Indian security forces in the held Kashmir valley is a matter of grave concern for Pakistan. Agencies
