The Hindu : Front Page : Salman Taseer for revival of India-Pakistan dialogue

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Sunday, Apr 18, 2010
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Salman Taseer for revival of India-Pakistan dialogue

Sandeep Dikshit

LAHORE: The Governor of Punjab and influential Pakistan People's Party leader Salman Taseer has appealed to India to take a big-hearted approach and put the past behind by engaging in dialogue with Pakistan.

Pointing out that the last two years of democratic government in Pakistan had changed the political landscape in the country, Mr. Taseer said while he did not claim to have an answer to several points of discord between the two countries, the “best way forward'' was to step up people-to-people contacts and trade besides reopening talks on all issues.

Appealing to the Indian media not to demonise Pakistan, he said, the Fourth Estate must realise that the forces behind the “incident'' [Mumbai attacks] wanted to destroy the bilateral relationship. “Neither side wants to go to war but the situation can be unfortunately foisted on us,'' he cautioned while interacting with a visiting Indian media delegation.

Islamabad was doing what it could to prevent militants from crossing over into Jammu & Kashmir. As a result there have been very few attacks. “India should appreciate that,” he observed.

Maintaining that there was no proof of the involvement of Laskar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief Hafiz Saeed “beyond claims,” Mr. Taseer said the civilian government does not support any militant group for carrying out violence in India. “If non-state actors are using Pakistan as a springboard, it is without the consent of the government. I am not claiming that the LeT is not threatening or attacking anyone. There is an insinuation [to this effect] by the Indian government which Pakistan will examine. We don't want to see India attacked. We have shown remorse [after the Mumbai attacks]. The best way is to get it behind us.''

The Governor, known to be close to the top Pakistani leadership, drew attention to the changes that have taken place in the country which were unique since the civilian government came to power and could play a role in improving bilateral relations.

After the change of government, former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf was removed through political pressure. “No one shot anybody.” Coalition governments were ruling at the Federal and the State level which was not part of Pakistan's political tradition. “It was not as if one party's victory led to the demise of another,” Mr. Taseer remarked.

Besides, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari voluntarily gave up power in a country, where heads of government were not known for this attribute. All major legislation such as the 18th Amendment to the Constitution, the National Finance Commission award and the package for Balochistan were passed through the politics of consensus. “This was never seen [earlier] in Pakistan.”

The government's target was to ensure it completed its five-year term and handed over power to the next civilian government, regardless of the political party which gained majority. “We don't want extra-constitutional forces to intervene. In two years the quasi-military overhang has been taken out by the atmosphere of consensus,'' he observed; reiterating his plea to revive India-Pakistan talks.

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