No quick solution to India-Pakistan Issues: Advani
By Maria A Khan - Pakistan Times Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI (India): Leader of main Indian opposition Bharatiya Janata Party [BJP] LK Advani on Wednesday observed that there was no alternative to peace, cooperation and normal ties between India and Pakistan, and counselled for patience on both sides saying there was "no scope for quick solutions" to the bilateral problems.

At a 40-minute long meeting with PML chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain here, the BJP president said he keenly looked forward to his forthcoming visit to Pakistan. Advani was earlier scheduled to visit Pakistan during the intra-session recess, but postponed it due to the impending visit of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf next month.

"There is no option to peace, cooperation and normal relations between India and Pakistan," he told the delegation led by Shujaat when asked whether he supported the dialogue process between the two countries, according to a BJP release.

"Zamaana Badal Gaya Hai (times have changed). Who would have imagined that Europe would be reunited one day?" Advani said, but cautioned, "Since the problem between our two countries have existed for several decades, there is no scope for quick solutions." "What is needed is patience, perseverance and determination on both sides," he said.

The Peace Process

Advani pointed out that the peace process initiated by the then BJP government between the two countries was heading forward. "I would visit Pakistan in June this year," he added.

Continuing, Advani said he would visit Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi during his stay in Pakistan. The BJP president said he had good and pleasant memories of these places as he had spent 20 years in Pakistan and had been studying in St Patrick’s school.

The BJP president recalled that he had advised former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to invite Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf in Agra in 2001. He described Muzaffarabad-Srinagar bus service a positive development and a step forward between the two countries.

Shujaat meets Natwar

Meanwhile, PML President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Wednesday said the process of confidence building and people-to-people contacts would further help improve bilateral relations between Pakistan and India.

He was talking to Indian External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh at a meeting held at the Hyderabad House. The PML chief was accompanied by Mushahid Hussain and members of the parliamentary delegation.

Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India Aziz Ahmad Khan was also present on the occasion.

Natwar said all was set to launch the Muzaffarabad-Srinagar bus on April-7 in held Kashmir, adding Congress President Sonia Gandhi and he would join Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to flag off the first bus.

Baghliar Project

Reiterating the prime minister’s observation on the issue of Baghliar project, Natwar said India was committed to implement Indus Waters Treaty in true letter and spirit. India is committed to take the composite dialogue process with Pakistan forward to settle all issues between the two countries, added the Indian Minister.

Natwar also hosted lunch in the honour of the PML chief and the parliamentary delegation. Separately, the PML chief held a meeting here on Wednesday with former Indian prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and appreciated his role in the launch of the peace process between the South Asian neighbours.

Members of Shujaat’s parliamentary delegation and Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India also attended the meeting held at Vajpyaee’s residence in a friendly and cordial atmosphere.

Responding to a point raised by Senator SM Zafar, Vajpayee said there was tangible improvement in the bilateral relations, while the two countries were one step away from the destination. The PML chief recalled the statement of Vajpayee that "friends can be changed but neighbours can not be".

US on Pak-India dialogue

Meanwhile, 'Pakistan Times' Foreign Correspondent Khalida Mazhar reports from Washington that the White House Tuesday said that United States would “continue to support” the dialogue that has been going on between the two countries “and the opening of that dialogue between the two countries.”

In terms of the Kashmir situation and the progress in the region, Spokesman Scott McClellan said “there has been some positive steps moving forward on reducing tension in the region.”

In response to a query at the daily Press briefing, the Spokesman said of the support of dialogue process that “we will continue to do that.”

“We have great relations with both countries and both countries have been good allies in the war on terrorism, the global war on terrorism.”

McClellan said: “We look forward to continuing to work with both those countries and building upon what is already strong relations.”

To a question, he said: “Pakistan has been an important ally in the global war on terrorism and we want to make sure we are supporting them as they work to confront the threats from terrorism that we continue to face.” “They continue to go after members of al Qaeda and members of the Taliban.”

On the sale of F-16s, the Spokesman referred to the telephonic coversation between President Bush and Prime Minister of India. He said “President did speak to Prime Minister Singh last week, and my deputy read that call out last week from Waco and talked about what they discussed in the call.●