New Delhi: Asserting that some people have complaints that the elections did not take place as expected in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), Pakistan’s former ambassador to the United States Husain Haqqani on Friday said the problems emanating from Gilgistan and PoK should be left to Pakistan, and the part of Kashmir that India has, should be handled by them alone only then there can be some peace in Kashmir.
“I have heard that some people have complaints with regards to PoK that the elections did not take place as expected. But, I think that the problems emanating from Gilgistan and PoK should be left to Pakistan and the part of Kashmir that India has, should be handled by them alone, then there can be some peace in Kashmir,” he told ANI.
Talking about the future of Indo-Pak Comprehensive Dialogue, the momentum for which was set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surprise visit to Pakistan, Haqqani said, “I personally think that Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif initiated the talks with sincerity, but Pakistan’s political condition is not conducive enough to allow PM Sharif to take any big decision. And, I don’t think PM Modi himself cannot take any decision individually, because when terrorism takes place, how can one expect concession towards one another.”
“I don’t think that Pakistan’s internal political condition is that stable so as to allow any leader to ensure cordial relationship between India and Pakistan,” he added.
With Prime Minister Sharif describing Kashmir as ‘unfinished agenda’ of the United Nations, Haqqani said Kashmir has been an ‘unfinished business’ for last 69 years and will remain so for the next 69 years.
“If someone says that something is an ‘unfinished business’, so they should remember that Kashmir is an unfinished business for last 69 years and will remain so for another 69 years and no further action would take place,” said Haqqani.
The former Pakistani envoy, however, called on both India and Pakistan to first try to be friends and then talk about their disagreements.
“I believe that it would be better if India and Pakistan should first try to be friends and then talk about their disagreements. But as of now, it doesn’t seem to be happening. As far as terrorists and people like Hafiz Saeed are concerned, I believe that they can only increase hatred and cannot increase Pakistan’s prosperity and happiness,” Haqqani said.
“Similarly, if in India, some people say that only enmity with Pakistan is the only solution, then also it would not benefit the bilateral relationship of both the countries. I think all the disagreements should be kept aside and emphasis should be put on friendship,” he added.
The Pakistan Prime Minister has vowed to raise this issue at every international platform and provide all sort of support to the Kashmiris.
Sharif made the remarks in Islamabad while talking to the newly-elected lawmakers of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir ( PoK) after his party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) won majority seats in the July 21 elections. (ANI)