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Sunday, September 09, 2012
Pakistan wants to leave the past and move forward: Khar
* FM says Pakistan realises potential of process of normalisation
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar on Saturday pointed out that Pakistan changed the position on Pak-India relations it held for 40 years in terms of normalisation of trade ties with India to send a very strong message that it is willing to forge ahead without being held hostage to the past position. She was talking to reporters after a meeting with her Indian counterpart SM Krishna. Khar said Pakistan was committed to realising the immense potential of the process of normalisation. She said Pakistan believed that the two countries should build on convergences as part of its broader vision of foreign policy engagements. “We should move forward and should not allow ourselves to be held hostage by the history,” she said. The foreign minister said that with determination and political will the two countries could address the issues of divergence, including Jammu and Kashmir, Siachen and Sir Creek. She emphasised that aspirations of Kashmiri people should be respected. The FM said the two sides would abide by the Indus Basin Waters Treaty. Pakistan had invited India to look at the possibility of improving the implementation mechanism of the treaty, which has, by and large, served well. She also referred to the missed opportunities in the past like the agreement forged by democratic heroes of the two countries – Benazir Bhutto and Rajiv Gandhi – for resolution of Siachen dispute. She said Gayari tragedy in Siachen was glaring example of the lost opportunities. She said Pakistan was committed not to losing any opportunity and to creating new opportunities. By December, she said Pakistan would start trade with India like any other country of the world. She said there was joint commitment to take care of Pakistani concerns on non-tariff barriers. Khar said she told her Indian counterpart that there was need to make the dialogue process effective and productive. She said that there should be simultaneous progress on all tracks as this is important to consolidate the gains so far made. staff report
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk