Dec 27 , 2015
News
Major political parties welcome goodwill visit
US, China, Ban happy over meeting; Hurriyat asks Nawaz,
Modi to take practical steps; Khursheed says PM should
take parliament into confidence over talksSUKKUR/ ISLAMABAD: While various nation states as well as local political parties welcomed the Indian premier Narendra Modi’s surprise visit to Pakistan, the Leader of the Opposition Khursheed Shah on Saturday said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif should take parliament and the political leadership into confidence over the talks held between the two sides.
Talking to the media in Sukkur on Saturday, Khursheed said PM Modi’s visit to Lahore was a positive step for the peace process. However, a scheduled meeting would have resulted in a discussion on various matters.
He said ignoring and neglecting politicians and not taking them into confidence by Nawaz Sharif over the Modi meeting was not a good sign in a democracy. He said Modi’s visit was like the visit of Clinton.
Agencies add: Various political parties and political leaders welcomed Modi’s Lahore visit. Talking to different TV channels, they said such a thaw in ties between the two neighbours was an acknowledgment of the successful policy of dialogue being pursued by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Defence Minister Kh Muhammad Asif welcomed the visit. The contacts between the leadership of the countries, he said, would be helpful for peace and stability in the region.
Commerce Minister Engineer Khurram Dastgir said peaceful and friendly relations between India and Pakistan would be beneficial for the whole region because of their importance. The visit of the Indian PM was a positive step towards improving relations between the two neighbours, he added.
Defence analyst Lt-Gen (retd) Abdul Qayyum said it had always been the stance of Pakistan that the dialogue process should continue as it was the best way to resolve all the outstanding issues.
Another defence analyst Lt-Gen (retd) Tallat Masood also welcomed the visit and said the Indian behaviour had changed due to the policies of PM Nawaz Sharif.
PTV Managing Director Muhammad Malick said the talks process should continue as the international community also wanted good relations between Pakistan and India. He said the meeting between the two counterparts had much importance and it was in fact a win-win situation for the Prime Minister Sharif’s government.
Defence analyst Dr Riffat Hussain termed the Indian PM’s visit a good gesture for the relations between the two countries.
Indian journalist Vinod Kumaar Sharma said it was a good omen and there should be follow-up of such meetings.
Prof Rasool Bukhsh Rais also hoped for good results from the meeting.
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said major political parties welcomed the goodwill visit of Narendra Modi to Pakistan.
The PPP and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf agree on peace and enhanced people-to-people contacts between Pakistan and India, Sartaj said.
Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid said Indian prime minister’s visit was a goodwill gesture and it was not in the knowledge of anyone in Pakistan.
Special Assistant to PM on Political Affairs Dr Asif Kirmani welcomed the visit. He said Modi’s visit would help take forward efforts for peace in the region.
Former foreign minister Khursheed Kasuri said the leadership of both countries had no other option but to come to negotiation table to resolve the longstanding issues.
Former information minister Qamar Zaman Kaira also welcomed the visit. It was an ice-breaking visit, he said.
Zahid Khan of Awami National Party said it was a new beginning of relations which witnessed a seesaw ride during the past.
Renowned human rights activist Asma Jehangir said the leadership of both the countries should use their capabilities for reducing tension. She said the Indian PM should play his role in reducing visa restrictions and stopping human rights violations in Indian-held Kashmir.
PPP leader Sherry Rehman said the stopover by Narendra Modi was highly appreciated by democratic forces.
Defence analyst Air Marshal (retd) Shahid Latif said the meeting was a positive move and it would pave the way for resolving the core issues between the two nuclear powers.
Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said the visit was a goodwill gesture. He said PM Narendra Modi came here to pay greetings and best wishes to Nawaz Sharif on his birthday.
Reacting to Narendra Modi’s visit, the US, China and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the move, hoping that it would help promote peace in South Asia.
They hoped that the visit would not only lead to an improvement in relations between Pakistan and India but also leave a positive impact on the region.
The US State Department, in a statement, said better relations between the two countries were beneficial for the entire region.
Similarly, the UN secretary-general hoped that the Pak-India dialogue process would continue and gain further strength following the meeting between the two premiers in Lahore.
In Beijing, the foreign ministry spokesman, Lu Kang, said his country “welcomes the latest development in the Pakistan-India relationship”.
On the other hand, the Hurriyat leaders too were among those praising the two prime ministers, as they urged the leadership of the two countries to resolve the core issue of Kashmir.
Syed Ali Geelani, in an interview, said the two countries would have to address the Kashmir dispute as per the aspirations of the Kashmiri people if these endeavours were to succeed, the Kashmir Media Service reported.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, in Srinagar, said, “Modi’s surprise visit to Lahore is a positive move. We welcome any such developments. This is great opportunity for both the countries to start parleys to resolve all their pending issues, particularly the Kashmir dispute.”
Another senior Hurriyat leader Shabbir Ahmad Shah said such moves should not be limited to photo shows and the two prime ministers must take practical measures to resolve the Kashmir dispute.
Courtesy www.thenews.com.pk