Approach to Kashmir issue to be critical in Pak-India talks

Pakistan's High Commissioner to the UK, Dr Maleeha Lodhi, underlined on Monday that approach to the long-standing Kashmir dispute will be critical in Pak-India dialogue, saying the two South Asian nations need to preserve agreements and the CBMs and maintain political contact at high level to take the process forward.
Outlining six 'key ground rules' to sustain the dialogue, Dr Maleeha Lodhi also underscored at a seminar that the peace process has to move beyond confidence building measures, which are only a means towards an end.
Maleeha Lodhi, who is also the chairperson of Board of Governors of the Institute of Regional Studies, in her key note address, described the present political environment in South Asia as being marked by an 'ambience of hope and anticipation'.
Continuing on the six ground rules, she said a problem-solving approach should mark the negotiating objectives of the two sides, the principle of reciprocity should guide the negotiations, and the two sides should pursue a steady and patient course to avert a breakdown or reversal of the process.
"The stakes are high for Pakistan and India in the bilateral dialogue - the lessons of the past must be learnt - the history of false starts and breakdown must be averted."
The first objective of the two sides must be to sustain the dialogue, she maintained.
Maleeha said political contact at sufficiently high-level is imperative to iron out issues, and keep the process moving towards the objective of durable peace through resolution of all issues.
"This issue (Jammu and Kashmir) remains central to the success or failure of the dialogue process - both in symbolic and substantive terms", she pointed, in her inaugural address, at the three-day seminar on prospects of peace, stability and prosperity in South Asia.
Maleeha Lodhi said President Pervez Musharraf's four-point formula - to set aside options unacceptable to either side and examine others - offers a viable basis to address the final settlement of the lingering issue.
"Being the problem, the status quo cannot be the solution - as the search for a final settlement is likely to be an intensive process, and consideration should be given to the creation of a working group to examine the issue".