Greater onus on Modi to convey peace: Pak ex-foreign minister

Express News Service

Former Pakistan overseas minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri in his 2015 ebook, Neither a Hawk Nor a Dove, had claimed that India and Pakistan almost reached a path-breaking components on Kashmir by means of again channel negotiations from 2004-07. Kasuri spoke to Preetha Nair about present Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s current name for peace talks with India and extra.

Edited excerpts:

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif’s interview calling for peace talks with India has created a flutter. Doable or wishful pondering?
I welcome any statements from India or Pakistan, which communicate of improved relations. I’m conscious of the varied elements and impediments on either side. From my expertise, given the political will on either side, these will be overcome. I imagine all issues and disputes between the 2 international locations will be resolved, together with Kashmir. Given the character of the issues of each international locations, there are too many actors searching for a chance at any time to rock the boat.So, my suggestion is that first talks must be performed on the again channel in order that neither get together tries to make political capital by means of self-serving leaks. During our time, we nearly agreed on the settlement framework of J&Ok. At that point additionally, the essential framework was mentioned on the again channel in order that spoilers obtained little or no alternative to poison the ambiance.

After the interview, there was a clarification by Pakistan PMO that dialogues can happen solely after the reversal of the choice taken on J&Ok.
The prevailing political polarisation in Pakistan might have necessitated this. The Pakistani PM was criticised roundly by the Opposition for that assertion. I confronted the same state of affairs once I was overseas minister however I refused to budge. Everybody is attempting to make political capital out of something the opposite get together says. It doesn’t imply one ought to hand over in despair. We can’t change the state of affairs in India or in Pakistan. We need to be taught to dwell with these realities and nonetheless be clear in regards to the final goal – peace.

Pak PM additionally mentioned that the nation has realized classes from three wars.
First a correction. There have been 4 wars, the final being at Kargil in 1999. Second, the sentence might have been higher phrased. PM talks of each Pakistan and India and never simply Pakistan when he talks of ‘learned lessons’. But your individual query implies that solely Pakistan is studying from its errors and that India needn’t.

India, in response to Pak PM mentioned that it desires a normalised ambiance free from terror and violence. Your feedback.
It’s a hen and egg state of affairs. My recommendation could be to start out one thing on the again channel. Recent ceasefire was additionally a results of again channel talks – although at navy to navy degree in 2018 when the 2 DGMOs held talks. It couldn’t have come out of the blue or with out the blessings of the political masters in Delhi and Islamabad.

Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri
Former Pakistan Foreign Minister

It’s nonetheless a impasse as each international locations don’t have excessive commissioners in place, no commerce ties, and just about a freeze on motion. If a starting is to be made, don’t you assume the 2 sides ought to concentrate on the resumption of commerce and upgrading of diplomatic ties?
Yes, I agree. In truth, a really unusual factor occurred in Pakistan throughout PM Imran Khan’s tenure. One day the federal government agreed to open commerce, and the subsequent day, they reversed the choice simply as you’re referring to PM Sharif’s assertion. Let me say one factor clearly, Prime Minister Modi bears higher accountability in selling regional peace since he’s at present the grasp of the whole lot in India, which incorporates politics, the media, the judiciary, and the economic system. That’s not the case in Pakistan the place Pakistan PMs need to carry on juggling the ball to fulfill conflicting constituencies. The higher accountability thus falls on PM Modi to make efforts for peace in South Asia.

Recently, Pak journalist Hamid Mir claimed that PM Modi was scheduled to go to Pakistan in April 2021 and resume commerce ties provided that they’ll freeze the Kashmir subject for 20 years or so. He mentioned that again channel talks have been performed by former military chief Bajwa. But then PM Khan backed out fearing political backlash.
It’s fairly clear that the articles have been primarily based on data straight provided by General Bajwa.

Mir additionally mentioned that General Bajwa performed the again channel talks with India with out the data of Imran Khan.
I’ve no means to substantiate this. On a lighter be aware although, let me say that the 2 overseas workplaces are usually not the best peacemakers – so it’s not a foul factor in the event that they weren’t conscious.

Modi visited Lahore in 2015 throughout Nawaz Sharif’s time. Now that his get together is in energy, do you assume it’s one other alternative for each international locations?
Based on Hamid Mir’s conversations with General Bajwa, it seems that PM Modi was supposed to go to Pakistan in 2021. If true, it solely proves my level that issues can change fairly dramatically and in a jiffy. We don’t need to lose hope. However, the voices in India, which used to talk of peace with Pakistan are usually not being heard a lot. The media, significantly digital media, is jingoistic.

Pak PM additionally urged involving UAE within the talks.
UAE is an efficient interlocutor and it’s thought of as a really shut pal of Pakistan. And it’s a detailed financial companion of India too. So I feel they’re ready to play a job.

Don’t you assume again channel talks have to be accompanied by a broader political course of?
Of course. Unfortunately, the connection between the 2 international locations are very troubled. Back channel talks can not assist in creating an enabling atmosphere for peace as a result of by its very nature, it needs to be secretive.
Unless public opinion on either side is in favour of improved relations and dialogue, nothing will fly. … India is a democratic nation and I imagine that it can not dwell with a state of affairs wherein it’s perceived to be continually retaining Kashmiris down by drive. This simply can not final and it’s in India’s personal curiosity to resolve these points.

Do you counsel India decide up from the place you left? Your ebook mentioned that India agreed to a four-point components to resolve the Kashmir subject.
That is the wisest factor to do. It doesn’t need to be an actual copy. Current rulers should take possession. After all, the so-called four-point components rests on one thing eminently wise, an answer that’s acceptable to Kashmiris and naturally, the governments and other people of Pakistan and India.

How will the sharpening India-China competitors play out within the ties between India and Pakistan?
I hope that this doesn’t influence the relations negatively however my worry is that it could properly, except dealt with prudently.

Former Pakistan overseas minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri in his 2015 ebook, Neither a Hawk Nor a Dove, had claimed that India and Pakistan almost reached a path-breaking components on Kashmir by means of again channel negotiations from 2004-07. Kasuri spoke to Preetha Nair about present Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s current name for peace talks with India and extra.

Edited excerpts:

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif’s interview calling for peace talks with India has created a flutter. Doable or wishful pondering?
I welcome any statements from India or Pakistan, which communicate of improved relations. I’m conscious of the varied elements and impediments on either side. From my expertise, given the political will on either side, these will be overcome. I imagine all issues and disputes between the 2 international locations will be resolved, together with Kashmir. Given the character of the issues of each international locations, there are too many actors searching for a chance at any time to rock the boat.So, my suggestion is that first talks must be performed on the again channel in order that neither get together tries to make political capital by means of self-serving leaks. During our time, we nearly agreed on the settlement framework of J&Ok. At that point additionally, the essential framework was mentioned on the again channel in order that spoilers obtained little or no alternative to poison the ambiance.

After the interview, there was a clarification by Pakistan PMO that dialogues can happen solely after the reversal of the choice taken on J&Ok.
The prevailing political polarisation in Pakistan might have necessitated this. The Pakistani PM was criticised roundly by the Opposition for that assertion. I confronted the same state of affairs once I was overseas minister however I refused to budge. Everybody is attempting to make political capital out of something the opposite get together says. It doesn’t imply one ought to hand over in despair. We can’t change the state of affairs in India or in Pakistan. We need to be taught to dwell with these realities and nonetheless be clear in regards to the final goal – peace.

Pak PM additionally mentioned that the nation has realized classes from three wars.
First a correction. There have been 4 wars, the final being at Kargil in 1999. Second, the sentence might have been higher phrased. PM talks of each Pakistan and India and never simply Pakistan when he talks of ‘learned lessons’. But your individual query implies that solely Pakistan is studying from its errors and that India needn’t.

India, in response to Pak PM mentioned that it desires a normalised ambiance free from terror and violence. Your feedback.
It’s a hen and egg state of affairs. My recommendation could be to start out one thing on the again channel. Recent ceasefire was additionally a results of again channel talks – although at navy to navy degree in 2018 when the 2 DGMOs held talks. It couldn’t have come out of the blue or with out the blessings of the political masters in Delhi and Islamabad.

Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri
Former Pakistan Foreign MinisterIt’s nonetheless a impasse as each international locations don’t have excessive commissioners in place, no commerce ties, and just about a freeze on motion. If a starting is to be made, don’t you assume the 2 sides ought to concentrate on the resumption of commerce and upgrading of diplomatic ties?
Yes, I agree. In truth, a really unusual factor occurred in Pakistan throughout PM Imran Khan’s tenure. One day the federal government agreed to open commerce, and the subsequent day, they reversed the choice simply as you’re referring to PM Sharif’s assertion. Let me say one factor clearly, Prime Minister Modi bears higher accountability in selling regional peace since he’s at present the grasp of the whole lot in India, which incorporates politics, the media, the judiciary, and the economic system. That’s not the case in Pakistan the place Pakistan PMs need to carry on juggling the ball to fulfill conflicting constituencies. The higher accountability thus falls on PM Modi to make efforts for peace in South Asia.

Recently, Pak journalist Hamid Mir claimed that PM Modi was scheduled to go to Pakistan in April 2021 and resume commerce ties provided that they’ll freeze the Kashmir subject for 20 years or so. He mentioned that again channel talks have been performed by former military chief Bajwa. But then PM Khan backed out fearing political backlash.
It’s fairly clear that the articles have been primarily based on data straight provided by General Bajwa.

Mir additionally mentioned that General Bajwa performed the again channel talks with India with out the data of Imran Khan.
I’ve no means to substantiate this. On a lighter be aware although, let me say that the 2 overseas workplaces are usually not the best peacemakers – so it’s not a foul factor in the event that they weren’t conscious.

Modi visited Lahore in 2015 throughout Nawaz Sharif’s time. Now that his get together is in energy, do you assume it’s one other alternative for each international locations?
Based on Hamid Mir’s conversations with General Bajwa, it seems that PM Modi was supposed to go to Pakistan in 2021. If true, it solely proves my level that issues can change fairly dramatically and in a jiffy. We don’t need to lose hope. However, the voices in India, which used to talk of peace with Pakistan are usually not being heard a lot. The media, significantly digital media, is jingoistic.

Pak PM additionally urged involving UAE within the talks.
UAE is an efficient interlocutor and it’s thought of as a really shut pal of Pakistan. And it’s a detailed financial companion of India too. So I feel they’re ready to play a job.

Don’t you assume again channel talks have to be accompanied by a broader political course of?
Of course. Unfortunately, the connection between the 2 international locations are very troubled. Back channel talks can not assist in creating an enabling atmosphere for peace as a result of by its very nature, it needs to be secretive.
Unless public opinion on either side is in favour of improved relations and dialogue, nothing will fly. … India is a democratic nation and I imagine that it can not dwell with a state of affairs wherein it’s perceived to be continually retaining Kashmiris down by drive. This simply can not final and it’s in India’s personal curiosity to resolve these points.

Do you counsel India decide up from the place you left? Your ebook mentioned that India agreed to a four-point components to resolve the Kashmir subject.
That is the wisest factor to do. It doesn’t need to be an actual copy. Current rulers should take possession. After all, the so-called four-point components rests on one thing eminently wise, an answer that’s acceptable to Kashmiris and naturally, the governments and other people of Pakistan and India.

How will the sharpening India-China competitors play out within the ties between India and Pakistan?
I hope that this doesn’t influence the relations negatively however my worry is that it could properly, except dealt with prudently.