CBMs good, time to think Kashmir: Pak

The Pakistan Foreign Minister told The Indian Express that there was a difference in view over the Iran issue as Pakistan had abstained while India voted and any remarks could be ‘‘misread’’ at this juncture when both sides are to review the composite dialogue process.

Yet, Kasuri did not miss out on emphasising what Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf had sought to do in New York—the Kashmir issue. ‘‘I don’t underrate what the CBMs (confidence building measures) have achieved. But the one message that should go from tomorrow’s meetings is that both countries are prepared to address the real dispute, which is that of peace in the state of Jammu and Kashmir,’’ he said.

Unless there was progress on addressing the ‘‘real issues’’, Kasuri feared that the peace process and meetings like these could be reduced to just ‘‘photo ops’’. However, he was quick to add that he did not undermine the effect CBMs have had on improving the ties between both countries.

‘‘I admit that CBMs are a good thing. They have had a positive effect and will help resolving outstanding issues. And this is for people to see because it is important that people acquire a stake in the peace process.’’

Extending the same logic, he said the people now want to see that the two governments are ‘‘serious about the whole process’’. Hence, the need to address the Kashmir issue. Kasuri added that on both sides there are ‘‘democratic governments’’ answerable to their people, implying there was pressure in Pakistan to move forward on Kashmir.

‘‘People must now begin to believe in the peace process and this can happen only when they see that both sides are serious about taking steps for peace in Jammu and Kashmir. So, let’s start thinking hard on this.’’

Musharraf had raised the issue with US President George W Bush in New York, calling for withdrawal of troops from the Valley and brought it up during his meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. India, on its part, has maintained that pulling out troops was a decision New Delhi would take based on its own independent assessment.

In this context, India feels it is not skirting the issue of Kashmir in the peace process. Rather, South Block officials have often said the idea was to first create a suitable environment for peace in J&K by encouraging people-to-people contacts between both sides of Kashmir, getting mores buses to move across the Line of Control, allow cross LoC trade to take place among other measures.

But clearly, Kasuri feels the time has come to start serious negotiations on Kashmir as he recalls the Pakistani proposal for across-the-table talks on the issue which would also involve representatives from Kashmir at some stage.