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Can't fight India over
Kashmir: Gilani
Islamabad:
Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Sunday acknowledged that the Kashmir issue would have to be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy as Pakistan "cannot afford wars" in the 21st century.
Four wars have already been fought
on the Kashmir issue and the region
still "was a flashpoint", but in the
21st century "we cannot afford
wars", Gilani said.
"We want to resolve issues through
dialogue, diplomacy, prudent policy
and national consensus," he said
while addressing a convention at the
Prime Minister's Secretariat to mark
'Kashmir Solidarity Day'.
Gilani said the Kashmir issue
remained the cornerstone of the
country's foreign policy. "We are
committed to continue with the
moral, political and diplomatic
support to Kashmiris. The whole
nation, including all the political
parties, is united on the cause of
Kashmir," he said.
Since Pakistan is a responsible
country and a responsible nuclear
power, it has to make responsible
policies, Gilani said.
Pakistan's policies should be made
through national consensus and by
the chosen representatives of the
people, and not by individuals, he
said.
The Kashmir policy had been the
focus of the Pakistan People's Party-
led government in line with the
vision of the party's founder,
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, he said.
Rallies were held across Pakistan to
mark 'Kashmir Solidarity Day',
which is a public holiday. The day
has been observed by Pakistan since
1990 to highlight the Kashmir issue.
During the rallies, Pakistanis
pledged to continue supporting the
Kashmiris for what they claimed
was their "right to self-
determination".
Special prayers were offered at
mosques and hundreds of people
formed a human chain in Pakistan-
occupied Kashmir. Banners calling
for Kashmir's freedom were put up
along roads in cities and towns
across Pakistan.
Citing the policy of Pakistan-China
friendship, Gilani told the
convention at the PM's Secretariat
that the whole country was united
on this policy.
As in the case of Pakistan's policy on
China, there was no difference of
opinion on the Kashmir cause, he
claimed. Gilani noted that there
were question marks about
Pakistan's policy on Afghanistan as
it was made by a dictator who wore
the four hats of the Chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, the
army chief, the President and the
Chief Executive.
Despite his power, the dictator could
not sustain pressure after a call
from a US Under Secretary, he said.
In contrast, the democratic
government closed NATO supply
lines, got the US to vacate Shamsi
airbase and boycotted the Bonn
Conference on Afghanistan after
NATO attack on Pakistani border
posts in November last year, he said.
President Asif Ali Zardari, in a
special message, reiterated Pakistan
s "fullest moral, political and
diplomatic support to Kashmiris".
In a separate message, Gilani said "a
peaceful settlement of the dispute in
accordance with the aspirations of
the Kashmiri people is a must to
ensure peace and prosperity in the
region".
Kashmir: Gilani
Islamabad:
Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Sunday acknowledged that the Kashmir issue would have to be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy as Pakistan "cannot afford wars" in the 21st century.
Four wars have already been fought
on the Kashmir issue and the region
still "was a flashpoint", but in the
21st century "we cannot afford
wars", Gilani said.
"We want to resolve issues through
dialogue, diplomacy, prudent policy
and national consensus," he said
while addressing a convention at the
Prime Minister's Secretariat to mark
'Kashmir Solidarity Day'.
Gilani said the Kashmir issue
remained the cornerstone of the
country's foreign policy. "We are
committed to continue with the
moral, political and diplomatic
support to Kashmiris. The whole
nation, including all the political
parties, is united on the cause of
Kashmir," he said.
Since Pakistan is a responsible
country and a responsible nuclear
power, it has to make responsible
policies, Gilani said.
Pakistan's policies should be made
through national consensus and by
the chosen representatives of the
people, and not by individuals, he
said.
The Kashmir policy had been the
focus of the Pakistan People's Party-
led government in line with the
vision of the party's founder,
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, he said.
Rallies were held across Pakistan to
mark 'Kashmir Solidarity Day',
which is a public holiday. The day
has been observed by Pakistan since
1990 to highlight the Kashmir issue.
During the rallies, Pakistanis
pledged to continue supporting the
Kashmiris for what they claimed
was their "right to self-
determination".
Special prayers were offered at
mosques and hundreds of people
formed a human chain in Pakistan-
occupied Kashmir. Banners calling
for Kashmir's freedom were put up
along roads in cities and towns
across Pakistan.
Citing the policy of Pakistan-China
friendship, Gilani told the
convention at the PM's Secretariat
that the whole country was united
on this policy.
As in the case of Pakistan's policy on
China, there was no difference of
opinion on the Kashmir cause, he
claimed. Gilani noted that there
were question marks about
Pakistan's policy on Afghanistan as
it was made by a dictator who wore
the four hats of the Chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, the
army chief, the President and the
Chief Executive.
Despite his power, the dictator could
not sustain pressure after a call
from a US Under Secretary, he said.
In contrast, the democratic
government closed NATO supply
lines, got the US to vacate Shamsi
airbase and boycotted the Bonn
Conference on Afghanistan after
NATO attack on Pakistani border
posts in November last year, he said.
President Asif Ali Zardari, in a
special message, reiterated Pakistan
s "fullest moral, political and
diplomatic support to Kashmiris".
In a separate message, Gilani said "a
peaceful settlement of the dispute in
accordance with the aspirations of
the Kashmiri people is a must to
ensure peace and prosperity in the
region".
