Pakistan and India should move to dispute resolution: Kasuri

Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri has said there has been significant improvement in atmospherics between India and Pakistan as a result of the peace process and emphasised that now the two countries need to move to dispute resolution, especially the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking at a think tank on "Pakistan's Role in Regional and Global Peace," the foreign minister stated that demonstration of political will can usher a new era in India-Pakistan relations. Kasuri spoke on a range of regional and international issues including the fight against terrorism, Afghanistan and Pakistan-US relations.
He informed the audience at the Council on Foreign Relations that the two South Asian countries are actively engaged in a composite dialogue, which encompasses talks on peace and security including Jammu and Kashmir and confidence building measures in nuclear and conventional fields.
Three rounds of composite dialogue have been completed and the fourth is underway. Kasuri noted that as a result of peace process and composite dialogue there has been increase in people-to-people contacts, the bilateral trade has increased from around $200 million before the peace process to more than $1095 million in 2005-06 and the bus and train links have led to increased people to people contacts.
"These improvements notwithstanding, Pakistan continues to emphasise that there is a clear need to make progress on substantive issues between India and Pakistan. Now that the atmospherics have improved, the two countries need to move to dispute resolution, especially the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir." President Musharraf's bold and flexible approach towards dispute resolution as well as his proposals for demilitarisation and self-governance and joint mechanisms in Kashmir is a manifestation of Pakistan's sincere desire to constructively engage with India, he observed. "These ideas have also found resonance amongst the Kashmiri leaders on both sides," he added.
The foreign minister said in South Asia today the greatest challenge is economic development to eradicate poverty, illiteracy and disease, which needs an enabling environment of peace and stability.
Explaining Pakistan's approach of peace and development in South Asia he said it includes: First, dialogue to settle disputes in particular Kashmir, Second, restraint and security balance in South Asia. Third, cooperation for economic development of the region, both on a bilateral basis and through the Saarc. As a nuclear weapon state, he said, Pakistan adheres to a doctrine of minimum credible deterrence and is opposed to any nuclear proliferation or arms race in the region. Accordingly, it has proposed a Strategic Restraint Regime to India. Pakistan is committed to the prevention of nuclear proliferation and has developed a strong command and control structure to protect its strategic assets as well as effective export controls to ensure against nuclear leakage.
However, as a fossil fuel deficit country, Pakistan needs to develop nuclear power generation to meet energy requirements of its expanding economy and is prepared to accept all safeguards for its civilian nuclear power sector.
On Pakistan-US relations, he said, the strategic relationship with the United States is making an important contribution in the efforts to build a more peaceful, secure and stable world and in combating terrorism. "Both countries recognise that a long-term, broad-based and substantial relationship is in their mutual interest." Khurshid Kasuri said Pakistan's commitment against international terrorism constitutes a major plank of the country's foreign policy.
Turning to Afghanistan, he said, "we firmly believe that a stable Afghanistan at peace with itself is in our core interest." Regarding Pakistan's counter terrorism efforts, the foreign minister said the country is doing its best to secure its borders with Afghanistan and wipe out al Qaeda elements on its soil. In this respect he said Pakistan has deployed over 90,000 troops in the difficult terrain and set up 1000 posts to stop cross-border movement of militants and captured or killed hundreds of terrorists. Pakistan has lost more than 700 brave men, he added. However, he stressed that securing the border is a shared responsibility.