'Gilani-Singh meet golden opportunity'

NISAR AHMED THOKAR

Rawalpindi, Mar 28: The Prime Minister of Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK) Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan on Monday said the forthcoming meeting between the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan, to be held on the sidelines of Pakistan-India cricket match at  Mohali, could pave the way for peace and prosperity in the region. 

“This is indeed a golden opportunity and there is urgent need to have serious threadbare discussions on all issues that have been hampering relations since a long time” Khan told Greater Kashmir. Referring to the checkered history of Indo-Pak relationship Khan said the two nations should forget the hostile past and usher a new era where all issues confronted by both the states could be discussed and debated in a very congenial atmosphere. “Problems faced by the two countries should be solved forthwith,” he said.  Describing Kashmir dispute as “atomic fire-ball” he said that the resolution of the dispute cannot be deferred. “Owing to its vulnerability” he said, “Kashmir issue should be given top-priority during the negotiations.” 

Khan said that reciprocity on the part of both nations was need of the hour. Instead of following or getting swayed by the public sentiments, he said that leadership of India and Pakistan should demonstrate wisdom, magnanimity and political resolve to thrash out solution of all problems through peaceful means.

Regarding the cricket diplomacy, he said, “It was in mid 80s when General Zia-ul-Haq introduced cricket-diplomacy and now it is an essential part of back-door diplomacy, I think in the follow-up of the forthcoming mega-event (cricket semi-final) some sort of events should be created in Pakistan wherein Indian premier can accordingly participate on the invitation of PM Gilani.” 

As a reciprocal gesture, he said that India should immediately send its cricket team to play a friendly match in Pakistan. Such an initiative he said would certainly help to bridge the trust deficit within the masses on both sides.

The PaK premier said that he was ready to host a friendly One Day International (ODI)  between India and Pakistan anywhere in PaK preferably at Quad-e-Azam cricket Stadium at Mirpur.  

Responding to another query he said, “Tripartite negotiations can be effectively helpful to further peace in the region”. Highlighting the importance of K-solution he concluded that the settlement of the long-outstanding issue can’t be delayed to an indefinite period of time.

Commenting on the high-profile engagement the convener of APHC-M Pak chapter Mehmood Ahmed Saghar termed it as a positive development and expressed the optimism that the meeting would provide an impetus to the dialogue process between the two countries.

He however maintained that without recognizing the centrality of Kashmir dispute bilateral negotiations between India and Pakistan were bound to fail. “Kashmiris have always supported dialogue between the two countries”, he said adding that it was very unfortunate that Indiaused it (dialogue) as a tool to hoodwink world community besides befooling Kashmiris.