| India had expected a new Prime Minister of Pakistan in the shape of Imran Khan.But as far as his Government is concerned he could not take the risk of displeasing people of Pakistan,especially the main opposition PML(N).Hardliners in Pakistan were annoyed when Imran Khan did not mention Kashmir as the basic issue between India and Pakistan. Prime Minister- Imran Khan may not be soft soft towards India, even as the 65-year-old cricketer-turned-politician described Kashmir as the "biggest problem" and advocated talks between the two neighbours to resolve it.0In his first public address after leading his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party to victory in general elections, Mr Khan talked of a peace initiative between Islamabad and Delhi and insisted on a role for Pakistan on the Kashmir issue, a stand which even previous Pakistani regimes stuck to despite India's protests.Mr Khan said Kashmir is the "core" issue between the two countries and it should be resolved through talks. " Imran believes he is arguably knows the most people in India because of my days in cricket. We can resolve the poverty crisis in South Asia. The biggest problem is Kashmir," he said, suggesting that the two sides should come to the table to resolve it. Khan, known to be harsh towards India in cricket and politics, said: "Kashmiris are suffering for long. Pakistan has to solve the Kashmir issue by sitting across the table. If India's leadership is willing, then both of us can solve this issue through dialogue. It will be good for the subcontinent also.As the election results showed a near-majority for Khan, he asserted that the blame game between the two neighbours, detrimental to the subcontinent, should stop.If India takes one step towards Pakistan, Islamabad will take two, but at least need a start, Pakistan wants to improve its relations with India, if their leadership also wants it. This blame game that whatever goes wrong in Pakistan's Balochistan is because of India and vice versa brings us back to square one," he said.The PTI leader said he had grown up "hating India" due to the bloodshed and violence associated with Partition. "I grew up hating India because I grew up in Lahore and there were massacres of 1947, so much bloodshed and anger. But as I started touring India, I got such love and friendship there that all this disappeared," Khan said.Weeks before the elections, he had expressed dim hopes for the breaking of ice between Pakistan and India, blaming Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the deadlock in relations between the South Asian neighbours. Mr Khan lamented that the Indian Prime Minister's "mindset" did not allow for negotiations between the two countries.Whatever Khan has stated is under the guidance of Army in Pakistan and no Prime Minister can oppose the top Army functionariesd.If he does he may lose power. |
