Date:17/04/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/04/17/stories/2006041703491300.htm

National

"Most Pakistanis are for peace"

Shujaat Bukhari

Peace process on at a steady pace, says former Foreign Secretary Humayun Khan

People on both sides have endorsed the peace process and pinned hopes on it

New Delhi can move forward on business, opening of routes

SRINAGAR: The ongoing peace process between India and Pakistan had been endorsed by people on both sides and ending violence was a pre-requisite for finding an amicable solution to all issues, including Kashmir, the former Foreign Secretary of Pakistan, Humayun Khan, has said.

Speaking to The Hindu before returning to Islamabad on Sunday, he said the process initiated two years ago was on at a steady pace. The confidence building measures too had made substantive advancement.

Mr. Khan, who had been High Commissioner to India from 1984 to 1988, said: "Most people in Pakistan realise that peace and normality in Kashmir are essential to sit back and think about their future. The overwhelming opinion is all violence must come to an end." He acknowledged the difficulties faced by Kashmir people in the past 16 years.

"First steps taken by the two countries are going on the right direction and I hope that what is learnt through talks will be an input. But we should have a common Kashmiri voice participating in dialogue."

Mr. Khan is here as part of a 12-member team from Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to take part in the second intra Kashmir dialogue, organised by the Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation.

He said there was a perception that no secession of territory, redrawing of border and no solution based on religion was acceptable to India. "But I think New Delhi can move forward on business, opening of routes and allowing free exchange of people and reuniting of divided families. New Delhi can show some concern for Pakistan's feelings while addressing issues such as Siachen and Baglihar."

Musharraf stand

On Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's stand on Kashmir, he said: "I think the compulsion for Gen. Musharraf is that Pakistan needs peace in order to address its many internal problems. This is nothing new and I think it should have been realised right from 1947. But events moved in a different direction. Unless there is peace our resources and energy are diverted from problems we face. We have political, economic and ethnic problems." Mr Khan sought to clarify that Kashmir was very important for Pakistan and there was no doubt about it.