Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri has said that Islamabad and New Delhi should deal with all those relevant issues at the Indo-Pak talks which people legitimately expect to be addressed.
"Everybody knows what they are - the six plus two. Of course, Kashmir (is included). If we deal with these issues, it will increase the confidence of the people," the Minister said in an interview carried by Indian national daily 'The Hindustan Times'.
In response to a question, he observed that increased interaction between the Kashmiris and the governments of Pakistan and India would be useful. Kashmiris could help in bringing India and Pakistan closer "if they are given a chance".
To another query, Kasuri said, "We would like the Kashmiri leadership to move freely across the border. All Kashmiri leaders should be encouraged to move freely. Pakistan government has always welcomed that, in principle," he added.
Disagreeing with the views of the questioner that Pakistanis hate India, the minister said that "Pakistanis are not crazy" that they should start hating India. "There is Kashmir issue that has divided our people. When issues like these are on forefront, then the feelings obviously are very strong," he added.
In reply to a question as to who has more chances of winning a Nobel Peace Prize, President Musharraf or Prime Minister Vajpayee, the Minister said, "there are some 'Prizes' above the Nobel Prizes."
He said both leaders wanted to do things, not to win the Nobel Peace Prize but to bring peace, amity and prosperity to the people of South Asia.
Asked "how do you compare the Indian and Pakistani media", Kasuri said: "Some of the Indian channels are full of such hate that I wonder whether they have promoted the feelings of friendship across the border. In some ways independent Pakistani channels have far less hate contents. And, whenever they have projected to the Pakistani point of view on Kashmir, they tried to balance it with another viewpoint."
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