OrionHunter
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Yes, says Salman Bashir. 'Having good relations with India is in Pakistan's interest'
Here I go again, posting a thread on the possibility of 'peace' between India and Pakistan. Other threads I have posted on the subject, died an inglorious death as trolls on both sides cut it to pieces! Will this one meet the same fate?
Here are extracts from an interview with Salman Bashir, formerly Pakistan's Foreign Secretary and Ambassador to China, and now Islamabad's new High Commissioner to India.
___________________________________________________________________
On Challenges
I'd like to focus more on opportunities. The challenges are obvious. It's time we start looking at opportunities. Building on friendships. We need to develop our common space. This means the whole spectrum - economy and trade, combating terrorism together, improving our people's daily lives. There's so much we can learn from each other. Both our countries have great talent - doctors to IT specialists, some of the world's best bankers. There are opportunities there, plus i am deluged by the tremendous interest of the business community on both sides. Everybody's dreaming of what's achievable - we have to give it the best tangible meaning.
Does he have a clear mandate?
Yes, to implement what our government's stated - Pakistan's sincere desire to develop good, co-operative relations. Just this month, several important engagements occurred. Our foreign secretary visited Delhi and had very good conversations. Pakistan Rangers spoke with the Border Security Force, the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency spoke with the Indian Coast Guards. Experts from the Petroleum Ministry discussed trade in petroleum products. Islamabad's had an important meeting on cross-LoC travel and trade.
India or America - Who's more of a threat?
There's a lot of positive civil society activity now. Aman ki Asha is very active. But in a very fundamental sense, there is an across-the-board realisation in Pakistan that having good relations with India is in our own national interest. We need a peaceful neighbourhood if we're to catch up on development. That is certainly Pakistan's strategic priority number one.
I would not like to go into threats, that's a completely different subject. Then you go into nuclear and conventional balance, pending issues, the subject of dialogue covering peace and security. I wouldn't like to say who's threat number one or two. Basically, we all are vulnerable and we must take ownership of our affairs. The mindset of the previous century has changed. It's a new world. I think we could dispense with threats and focus on the positives.
______________________________________________________________
Well said!
Yes, it's a new world. We need a paradigm shift in our thinking. We need to move on for our own mutual benefit instead of being stuck in the past. We need to expand our economies and trade as we have the potential to make South Asia an economic powerhouse, lifting millions out of poverty. I personally feel that we need to build confidence and trust through interaction in various fields. Problem solving on vital issues would then be easier to discuss and arrive at mutually acceptable solutions.
Kashmir, Siachen, Sir Creek, etc are issues that can be solved if there is political will on both sides. But sadly, vested interests on both sides are too many for this to happen with the urgency it needs.
The other option is to continue to be in a state of 'cold war' which benefits none and just adds more misery to the downtrodden with billions of dollars being wasted on an arms race for a war that may never happen due to the changed geopolitical scenario.
Which option would you choose?
'Having good relations with India is in Pakistan's interest' - The Times of India
Here I go again, posting a thread on the possibility of 'peace' between India and Pakistan. Other threads I have posted on the subject, died an inglorious death as trolls on both sides cut it to pieces! Will this one meet the same fate?
Here are extracts from an interview with Salman Bashir, formerly Pakistan's Foreign Secretary and Ambassador to China, and now Islamabad's new High Commissioner to India.
___________________________________________________________________
On Challenges
I'd like to focus more on opportunities. The challenges are obvious. It's time we start looking at opportunities. Building on friendships. We need to develop our common space. This means the whole spectrum - economy and trade, combating terrorism together, improving our people's daily lives. There's so much we can learn from each other. Both our countries have great talent - doctors to IT specialists, some of the world's best bankers. There are opportunities there, plus i am deluged by the tremendous interest of the business community on both sides. Everybody's dreaming of what's achievable - we have to give it the best tangible meaning.
Does he have a clear mandate?
Yes, to implement what our government's stated - Pakistan's sincere desire to develop good, co-operative relations. Just this month, several important engagements occurred. Our foreign secretary visited Delhi and had very good conversations. Pakistan Rangers spoke with the Border Security Force, the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency spoke with the Indian Coast Guards. Experts from the Petroleum Ministry discussed trade in petroleum products. Islamabad's had an important meeting on cross-LoC travel and trade.
India or America - Who's more of a threat?
There's a lot of positive civil society activity now. Aman ki Asha is very active. But in a very fundamental sense, there is an across-the-board realisation in Pakistan that having good relations with India is in our own national interest. We need a peaceful neighbourhood if we're to catch up on development. That is certainly Pakistan's strategic priority number one.
I would not like to go into threats, that's a completely different subject. Then you go into nuclear and conventional balance, pending issues, the subject of dialogue covering peace and security. I wouldn't like to say who's threat number one or two. Basically, we all are vulnerable and we must take ownership of our affairs. The mindset of the previous century has changed. It's a new world. I think we could dispense with threats and focus on the positives.
______________________________________________________________
Well said!
Yes, it's a new world. We need a paradigm shift in our thinking. We need to move on for our own mutual benefit instead of being stuck in the past. We need to expand our economies and trade as we have the potential to make South Asia an economic powerhouse, lifting millions out of poverty. I personally feel that we need to build confidence and trust through interaction in various fields. Problem solving on vital issues would then be easier to discuss and arrive at mutually acceptable solutions.
Kashmir, Siachen, Sir Creek, etc are issues that can be solved if there is political will on both sides. But sadly, vested interests on both sides are too many for this to happen with the urgency it needs.
The other option is to continue to be in a state of 'cold war' which benefits none and just adds more misery to the downtrodden with billions of dollars being wasted on an arms race for a war that may never happen due to the changed geopolitical scenario.
Which option would you choose?
'Having good relations with India is in Pakistan's interest' - The Times of India
