India asked to allow APHC leaders' visit to Azad Kashmir
By Assad Abbas - Pakistan Times Staff Reporter

LAHORE: The next step towards peace in the region should be the Indian permission to let the leaders of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference visit the Azad Kashmir.

This was stated by Foreign Minister Khurshid M. Kasuri during his keynote speech at a dinner hosted at the Governor’s house to meet the senior overseas visitors of Shell International on Thursday.

He hoped the peace process that had now culminated into the Bus diplomacy across the LoC would finally lead to the amicable and just solution of all outstanding disputes including Kashmir.

Answering a question about the proposed Iran Pakistan India pipeline he conceded that the US was averse to such a project but even then there were prospects for this project because if the sanctions were to be applied per se the Iranians already had an oil pipeline running through Turkey.

In view of the complexities like these the Iranians were ready to bring pipeline to their border from where it could be picked up by the international companies according to their interpretation of the international law.

Of Pakistani Missions

When asked about the performance of various Pakistani missions and their failure to quell the propaganda against the country in the foreign media he said that there were essentially limits to what a mission could do to meet the end as no advertiser could deliver beyond a limited point.

He also presented a brief outline of the government’s achievements in various crucial sectors and detailed out the government’s resolve to work for peace-building in the region. He pointed out how Pakistan was about to become the energy hub of the region.

He also mentioned his meeting with the Indian Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal during which he had revealed that by 2010 about 90 percent of Indian energy needs would have to be met by importing it from outside.

The Energy Bridge

In such a scenario Pakistan could essentially become the energy bridge between various regions namely South Asia, Central Asia and the West Asia.

Outlining the government’s resolve towards contributing the regional peace and stability, he quoted General Musharraf’s remarks “we do not need a Marshall Plan. All we need is an enabling environment of peace and stability in this region”.

He also mentioned Pakistan’s pledge to ensuring support to a progressing Afghanistan. He finally went on to say the much sought opportunity for peace and stability was now knocking at the door and its realization was only a matter of time.

Governor Punjab

Earlier welcoming the guests Governor Punjab Lt. Gen. (Retd) Khalid Maqbool expressed his views about the emerging congenial environment in Pakistan for investment and progress.

He pointed out the American decision to allow Pakistan purchase the F-16s, the just concluded visit of the Chinese Premier, Pakistan’s progressive thaw with India all bore testimony to the fact that Pakistan was rapidly rising as an important member of the comity of world nations.

He said he was feeling very upbeat on these developments and various others. The senior representative of the Shell Corporation also addressed the audience on the occasion.●