The Hindu : International / India & World : Kasuri sad over Advani's resignation

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Thursday, Jun 09, 2005

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International - India & World

Kasuri sad over Advani's resignation

B. Muralidhar Reddy

Need for "quick resolution" of all outstanding issues underscored

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmoud Kasuri has expressed "sadness and surprise" over the resignation of BJP president L.K. Advani and said it underscored the need for "quick resolution" of all outstanding issues between India and Pakistan.

Mr. Kasuri, currently in London en route to Washington, in a statement faxed to The Hindu said that though it was an internal party matter as the Foreign Minister of Pakistan he could not ignore the circumstances which forced Mr. Advani's resignation and the possible implications of this development.

The Minister said both Pakistan and India were committed to the peace process and there were strong constituencies of peace in both countries but at the same time there were extremist elements on both sides.

He said the development related to Mr. Advani underlined the need for a quick resolution of all outstanding issues between the two countries including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir so that "the ongoing peace process did not become a victim of the extremists in future."

Mr. Kasuri stressed the need for the two countries to work for resolving all outstanding issues with "vision and what is more important is, with courage." He said Mr. Advani's visit "helped the ongoing peace process between Pakistan and India."

The Minister said Mr. Advani's statement on the greatness of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, his role in the independence movement and his reference to Jinnah's first speech in the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan, had "helped the younger generation understand better the real forces and events that led to the Partition of the subcontinent."

He countered the critics of the current peace process who felt that its pace was not fast enough and pointed out that the visit to Pakistan at the same time by the All-Parties Hurriyat Conference leaders, L.K. Advani and the Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar was an indication "how far the situation has changed."

However, Mr. Kasuri felt that progress needed to be made on all the outstanding issues, including Jammu and Kashmir and also on the Siachen, Sir Creek, Baghliar dam and other issues.

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