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| Zardari for CBMs on Kashmir | | | EARLY TIMES DESK
JAMMU, Sept 20: In his first statement to the Pakistan Parliament after being sworn in as President, Asif Ali Zardari has offered to support the Confidence Building Measures of easing tension on Kashmir and making cordial relations with India.
Zardari proposed setting up a Parliament caucus on Kashmir to make a national policy on the issue. He however, repeated the Pakistan’s trademark statement that Kashmir issues continues to be at core of national policy.
Following is the portion of Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari's address in parliament Saturday in which he spoke on relations with India:
'The Charter of Democracy binds the government to a framework of peace and justice for the people of Pakistan and peace and friendship with India.
Pakistan has decided to resume the composite-dialogue process with India, driving our relations through enhanced trade.
We express our complete commitment to the Kashmiri people in their just struggle for the restoration of their fundamental rights. We will continue to seek the settlement of all outstanding disputes, including the dispute over Jammu and Kashmir so that the main hurdle in the way towards peace and full normalization of relations between Pakistan and India is removed.
As a new initiative we will start a cross-LoC trade as a pioneering CBM in Kashmir. We also propose a more liberal visa regime to further expand people-to-people contacts and friendly exchanges, and establish new facilities for the visiting Sikh and Hindu pilgrims.
As another initiative in our relationship with India, I would urge the Parliament to form a bipartisan caucus for the purpose of resolving outstanding disputes relating to Kashmir and the Indus Water head works. All parties must be represented on this caucus so that the nation is united on this key issue and draws strength by speaking in one voice.' |
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