India, Pakistan ties: Modi cites Simla, Lahore pacts for talks
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NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said he is open to talks with Pakistan on all outstanding issues in the framework of Simla and Lahore pacts, but he indicated no time in an interview published on Thursday.
“We remain open to bilateral dialogue with Pakistan on all outstanding issues in an environment free from terrorism and violence,” Mr Modi told Hindustan Times in his first interview to an Indian newspaper. He was speaking a day before leaving for France, Germany and Canada.
Bilateral ties went into a freeze after Pakistan’s High Commissioner Abdul Basit held meetings with the Kashmiri Hurriyat leaders last year which annoyed the Indian foreign ministry. Since then, the two sides have taken tentative steps towards a possible resumption in dialogue, with Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar visiting Islamabad for talks with his Pakistani counterpart.
Take a look: Good neighbours
“The Simla Agreement and Lahore Declaration have to be the basis for going forward,” he said, referring to two bilateral treaties agreed between the troubled neighbours to normalise relations and curb a nuclear arms race in South Asia.
“Peace can only thrive when the climate is right,” Mr Modi said, when asked when the bilateral dialogue could resume.
He signalled his desire to build bridges with Pakistan when he invited South Asian leaders, including his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif, to his inauguration last year. He followed it up with his ‘sari-and-shawl’ diplomacy with Mr Sharif, which rekindled hopes that the détente was well intentioned, the Hindustan Times said.
Off-and-on discussions between India and Pakistan do not have a record of durable success, and the slow progress of the trial into the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which killed 166 people, have fed fears in India that Pakistan is not serious about acting against militant groups on its soil.
India on Thursday reacted strongly to a Pakistani court’s order to release 2008 Mumbai terror attack’s alleged mastermind Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi terming it as an “extremely disappointing development” and asked Islamabad to immediately ensure that he does not come out of jail. “This is an extremely disappointing development. Pakistan must ensure that terrorists like Lakhvi do not come out of jail,” a senior Home Ministry official said.
Published in Dawn, April 10th, 2015
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Comments (83) Closed
Apr 10, 2015 07:34am
He is right, those are the latest aggrements India and Pakistan had. If these aggrements are not honored then how come we be sure that the new Kashmir aggrement will be honored.
Talks can not go back and forth, latest agreements have to be honored.
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Apr 10, 2015 08:08am
Will there be an outcome of these pacts and talks? I don't think so.
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Apr 10, 2015 08:10am
Let the ice melt and friendship flow!
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Apr 10, 2015 08:21am
Resolution of Kashmir is of utmost importance and is in the interest of both countries to seek its early resolution... issue has taken its toll on the economies of both India and Pakistan... together both countries spend approx. $50 billion on defense related expenses every year... this waste of vital resources is preventing approx. 1 billion people to come out of poverty...
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Apr 10, 2015 08:22am
Both Simla and Lahore are the best bilateral agreements between two nuclear giants of South Asia. Wait till 2047, the world will be envious of their friendship.
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Apr 10, 2015 08:32am
People want peace on both sides of the border, but I highly doubt that the petty politics, certain business people and the media will allow this to happen. There are a lot of powerful people that actually benefit from animosity between India and Pakistan, and they will do their best to let this hostility continue. However, let's hope for the best and prepare for the worst!
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Apr 10, 2015 08:54am
Yeah, no harm in talking as it will not yield any results.
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Apr 10, 2015 08:55am
India is not serious in resolving any issues including kashmir with pakistan in same way as China is not serious in resolving border issues with India.
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Apr 10, 2015 09:04am
Modi goes to France, Germany and Canada. NS goes to SA, SA, and SA.
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Apr 10, 2015 09:07am
@Raj Hundal
2 giants ??
2047 india definately will be muh ahead
pakistan no comments
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Apr 10, 2015 09:09am
@Raj Hundal I can understand that one giant is India. Which is the other 'giant' you are referring to ? Are you referring about China ?
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Apr 10, 2015 09:27am
Simla and Lahore declarations under the umbrella of UNSC resolutions. You dream of being an UNSC member but blatantly refuse to accept it's resolutions. This is what is called speaking with a forked tongue. Wake up India. Stop playing games.
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Apr 10, 2015 09:43am
Simla agreement and Lahore declaration are just eye wash. There will be no outcome of these pacts.
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Apr 10, 2015 09:49am
Pakistan is under transformation stage.there is wide spread of different thoughts in pakistan.Pakistan need a good leader like MAZ.who could lead them in right direction.it will be alright.
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Apr 10, 2015 10:14am
As we all know .. No country will give up their land ... So better follow the European model and focus on development.. India is a big market and trade between the two will benefit both..why give our money to westerners when we can benefit among ourselves?
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Apr 10, 2015 10:15am
This statement tells it all, " Pakistan must ensure that terrorists like Lakhvi do not come out of jail,” a senior Home Ministry official said."
Unlike in India, our court system, judges and laws abide by a Constitutional rule of LAW, where if the empirical evidence and fact based information doesn't support the accused - he or she can't be held in jail indefinitely.
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Apr 10, 2015 10:17am
Mr Modi say so many things but in my opinion this is one thing which he is saying right.
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Apr 10, 2015 10:18am
@Canada: One only goes where one is invited.
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Apr 10, 2015 10:25am
Many refugees are coming to India from pakistan.No Indian want to go to Pakistan or AJK as normal citizen.If people of India held Kashmir or India has any love for Pakistan or AJK rule,considering them settle in Pakistan or AJK.If any pakistani want to settle in India,Let them do it.Pakistan should Pay $25000 for a pakistani coming to India,and India Paying same amount for an Indian going from India.This will make unsatisfied people on both side happy and solve refugee problems.
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Apr 10, 2015 10:33am
Let's hope for the best
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Apr 10, 2015 10:46am
@Canada Yes Saudi Arabia, South Africa and South America tours.
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Apr 10, 2015 10:53am
Now that Lakhvi is free, Pakistan should not have any issue holding talks with him.
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Apr 10, 2015 10:54am
Perfectly right. The latest agreement between both countries is Shimala agreement when Pakistan accepted that they would only talk to India and there would be no third party in talks.
So, will Pakistan follow the agreement is had signed?
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Apr 10, 2015 10:56am
Nothing wrong with talks but typical Indo-Pak talks always failed.
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Apr 10, 2015 11:08am
that means no dialogue just passing time until nukes start talking.
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Apr 10, 2015 11:08am
Simla and Lahore Declarations are fine but under umbrella of UNSC resolutions. India wants UNSC membership but does not accept UNSC resolutions?
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Apr 10, 2015 11:11am
Modi Indirectly speaking
.. We don't want to talk..
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Apr 10, 2015 11:12am
The usual Indian evasion. UN plebiscite is only basis, Simla is defunct, as per it's ' resolution within reasonable time' clause. 44 years and this man talks of conducive atmosphere. How many thousands have been killed in IOK in these 44 years, by Indian occupation army. Come to discuss plebiscite in Ernest otherwise just keep quiet and don't bother us. Btw Lakhvi is innocent after your Verma's statement, that RAW was behind the murderous atrack.
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Apr 10, 2015 11:14am
@Sunil I agree with you, this once. It will have to be UN plebiscite or continuous conflict, with nuke enhancement on both sides.
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Apr 10, 2015 11:16am
Give peace a chance.....
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Apr 10, 2015 11:19am
Finally Modi is going to countries of size, after seychelles and maldives, I thought he will waste our money visiting even smaller insignificant Island countries.
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Apr 10, 2015 11:19am
Let India and Pakistan Live in peace forever.
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Apr 10, 2015 11:24am
Modiji is turning around from his hard conflict stance with Pakistan to let's talk mode. I think US has told him to do peace and agree on kashmir. I know my countryman don't like, but it is only way to full peace. Then no wasting money on arms but welfare.
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Apr 10, 2015 11:41am
@Zahid Non-binding Resolution with pre-conditions which were not met by both parties.
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Apr 10, 2015 11:41am
@Sunil, Ofcourse this is eye wash. We have been living as we are today since 1947. Forget the talks and settlement. BJP proved when Vajpai was PM. India refused to sign peace agreement after the draft was approved by both parties.
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Apr 10, 2015 11:41am
@Zahid What is the UNSC resolution on Kashmir. Please go read up.
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Apr 10, 2015 11:42am
Modi, though indirectly, made it amply clear that from now on India looks at Pakistan only in the light of SAARC. He then pointed out that relations with all SAARC countries have improved, but it can not improve with Pakistan in the atmosphere of terror and violence. Please read the entire answer regarding Pakistan in Modi's interview. It's on Hindustan Times website. Only after setting this context of Pakistan being involved in terrorism, he said that we can talk if they are serious under Simla agreement and Lahore declaration. This article does not give the correct view of what he said.
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Apr 10, 2015 11:56am
@Zahid please read the UNSC resolutions in detail and you will be surprised to know that it is Pakistan which was supposed to vacate the part of Kashmir which it occupied in 1947 before India could act.
I am surprised that most of the Pakistani journalists and politicians tend to ignore this very important fact.
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Apr 10, 2015 12:00pm
Under which UN resolution did Pakistan give away Kashmiri lands to China. Pakistan has violated UN resolutions on Kashmir and must be held accountable.
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Apr 10, 2015 12:10pm
If both nations make piece, who will buy weapons from western world? Their proxies will come into effect as soon as they smell progress between the two.
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Apr 10, 2015 12:19pm
The man is right
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Apr 10, 2015 12:20pm
@Zak for once I agree with you.
You guys want to talk. So let's talk. Come over, have chai & biscuits & go back. Do come again next week...
If you guys don't want to talk, that also is OK...
Let's just keep it at that.
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Apr 10, 2015 12:22pm
@Mohammad akhtar My friend let us keep hope. Some day some breakthrough may take place. Otherwise we will have to live in a state of half-war with each other. Do you realise the consequences of how much human suffering there will be if some kind of war results. A state of half-war will do no good to Pakistan nor to India. On the other hand were there to be peace and goodwill, across the board economic development will take place. Tourism will be rampant. Educational exchange programmes can take place on a big scale. There would be so many benefits to the people of the two countries. India has a bigger responsibility in this I agree. I still have hope in a fair solution to all the problems.
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Apr 10, 2015 12:26pm
@Biswajeet ; Its not the size that matters. He wants to engage all countries close to Indian subcontinent to make sure they donot become China's satellite countries. If previous Indian govt's had done half of what he is doing now, there was no need for him to spend this much time overseas. You also seems to have forgotten that he had highly successful US and Australia visits..
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Apr 10, 2015 12:27pm
@Zahid : Obviously Pakistanis do not know about the UN resolutions. It directs Pakistan to vacate Pak Occupied Kashmir as a first step to be followed by referendum. Also China has to vacate the portion of Kashmir gifted to it by Pakistan. Pundits driven out illegally should be reinstated and then only referendum can be taken. Can Pakistan start the process of implementation of UN resolutions by vacating whole of Kashmir, and demand back land gifted to China to show its sincerity ? Pakistanis only parrot about UN resolutions without reading its terms.
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Apr 10, 2015 12:33pm
go modi go transform the future of kashmir and india
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Apr 10, 2015 12:36pm
@Biswajeet Increase your GK, Modi already visited UK,Japan,USA, Austrelia. All are big and fat. He did not visited Maldives, but did visited Nepal, Butan, Maritus and seychelles.
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Apr 10, 2015 12:47pm
@Biswajeet No country is insignificant. Those countries have majority citizen of Indian origin at strategic location.
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Apr 10, 2015 12:51pm
@Zak Plebiscite was already conducted or should I say the election in Jammu & Kashmir and the majority voted for Indian democracy in spite of threats from separatists...Please understand talks are in mutual interests...
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Apr 10, 2015 12:53pm
@Zak The UNSC 1949 resolution lapsed in 1959. The 1949 resolution asked Pakistan to vaccate parts of Kashmir it had occupied to enable the plebiscite to be held. Due to pakistan's failiure to vacate occupied Kashmir, the UNSC resolution lapsed in 1959. This was also referred to in the Simla Agreement of 1971. If Pakistan's media, generals & politicians want to feed you misinformation, it is their business but not that of UNSC or other nations.
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Apr 10, 2015 12:57pm
What UNSC recommendation ? It was India which went to the UN to seek a resolution to Kashmir. I think India should just withdraw the petition and leave bilateral negotiations as the only option.
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Apr 10, 2015 12:59pm
@Zak Then Pakistani leader themselves signed Simla Agreement and agreed upon the treaty that any conflict between India-Pakistan will be resolved bilaterally.So it automatically nullifies UN resolution Thats why UN body is not demanding India-Pakistan to act upon Plebiscite. Get your facts right.
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Apr 10, 2015 01:02pm
@Canada - hahaha....that was epic
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Apr 10, 2015 01:47pm
If the environment was really as cordial as Mr Modi wants it to be, there would be no reason for the talks because all would be well. Forget the pre-conditions, sit down and solve all disputes amicably for all parties. People of the region deserve this.
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Apr 10, 2015 02:32pm
Let a new accord begin.. We have shown the world that we can together bring smiles for humanity as witnessed in Yemen. It is just that commoners from both lands shun politicians who divide us.
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Apr 10, 2015 02:40pm
@Biswajeet England is a medium sized island but ruled over continents
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Apr 10, 2015 02:55pm
@R.Kannan Agreed. As UNSC resolution lapsed in 1959, Simla Agreement and Lahore Declaration have to be the basis for going forward.
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Apr 10, 2015 02:57pm
yes, he absolute right. Modi should learn that civilian Govts. are always ready to normalize the relation except strong Military Establishment (both sides).
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Apr 10, 2015 02:57pm
pakistan has had tried since 1947 to sit for friendship bt india was sitting and again standing for warif u forgets rember 1971, + before and after. now it is issue of whole Muslim Ummah. and first time in hisotory Middle east has given great importance to Pakistan. Indians were succcessful in past to assure Middle East that Pakistan is not capable, not reliable and has not taelented companies. Your in
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Apr 10, 2015 03:30pm
So cricket could resume!
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Apr 10, 2015 03:44pm
Amazing how many Indians read the Dawn. Keep up the good work and make sure that when you report its neutral and fair. But also remember that there are certain things that shouldnt be published to ensure public moral isnt corrupted and the image of Pakistan is improved.
Modi - is from old school politics, Pakistan has moved on. Although peace is desired it is not the be all and end all should Modi revert back to his extreme views of Hinduism. Pakistan on the other hand is moving in the right direction and when it cleans it's act up it will be India that will need Pakistan not the other way round i assure you.
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Apr 10, 2015 04:13pm
This Kashmir will never let us unite. Life is too short to be fighting over a piece of land
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Apr 10, 2015 04:50pm
@Zahid The UN has said that the so called resolutions are now defunct due to Simla and lahore declarations. They are also unimplementable.
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Apr 10, 2015 04:50pm
@Ahmed USA: as an Indian we are okay with the statusquo until measurable change in ground reality is experienced before we sit down to talk.
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Apr 10, 2015 04:51pm
@Ahmed USA There is not resolution to Kashmir. We have to just let it lie. Once relations and bilateral trade become good, it will become irrelevant. Kashmir does not determine the future of India and Pakistan
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Apr 10, 2015 04:52pm
@Zahid Simla and Lahore declarations have nothing to do with UN. They are bilateral
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Apr 10, 2015 04:54pm
@Zak Its the other way around. The UN resolutions are defunct. What is operative are the lahore and Simla agreements.
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Apr 10, 2015 04:55pm
@Biswajeet Seychelles and Maldives are important neighbors. Do not trivialize them
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Apr 10, 2015 05:07pm
The people of both the countries want to live in peace and have love between them. It is only possible if Kashmir problem is solved according to the aspirations of the people of Kashmiris.
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Apr 10, 2015 05:43pm
@Ahmed USA Simla and lahore declarations are to solve all the outstanding issues. There is no sense in coming up with new declarations/agreement if they are meant not to be followed. Pakistan should have thought about before signing these declarations before signing them if it did not like it. When you sign something it becomes, in a sense, legal document.
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Apr 10, 2015 05:45pm
@Zak You are absolutely right we already had two declarations that were co-singed by Pakistan, are not followed up by it.
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Apr 10, 2015 05:50pm
Shimla agreement is irrelevant. Without Kashmiris as a party to the conflict, the talks would be farce.
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Apr 10, 2015 06:10pm
Let us settle the issue by mutual understanding of throwing a couple of nuke bombs on each other. This is the good solution both parties are threatening and counter-threatening.
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Apr 10, 2015 06:51pm
@Ahmed USA Sir, we do not mind spending as we never questioned how much china spends.
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Apr 10, 2015 06:53pm
@shamain India will deal with China and please do not worry. For your knowledge there is trade of US$ 100 billions between India and China.
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Apr 10, 2015 06:56pm
@Zahid I hope there might be people in Pakistan who understands multilateral and bilateral agreements. Bilateral agreements with new precedence always dominates the multilateral agreement.
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Apr 10, 2015 07:07pm
Can we please ignore India for some time? No Friendship no enmity at all? Alot is happening on our Western borders let us please focus our energies there at least that will yield some fruits. Offer our services as mediator in Yemen conflict, strike a balance between our relations with SA &Iran, US & China/ Russia and facilitate Afghanistan stabilization.. these efforts will automatically contribute to a peaceful environment at Home
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Apr 10, 2015 07:26pm
@Ahmed USA ..I doubt it wil be posted but still writing it. In 1947 Kashmir decided to be independant. what Pak did..Attacked it and tried to capture it. If Indian army had not reached, they would have captured whole Kashmir. If tomorrow plebisite happens (For that Pak has to get out of it's part of Kashmir and remove new settlements in part of Kashmir and get the land back from China which thye have donated) and Kashmiris decide to stay independant ..Pak will never allow that. Pakistan think of only one solution ...Kashmir shd become part of Pakistan..India will never accept it.
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Apr 10, 2015 08:14pm
@Zak for your knowledge as per pakistan foreign specialist shimla agreement and lahore aggrement are most recent aggrement between 2 countries so all the previous aggrement are nullinfy so when usay un say publicite means you not obey even your country law and aggrements i think know you understand
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Apr 10, 2015 08:48pm
@Zahid , from your comments, I presume you havent read the Shimla or the Lahore agreements ....
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Apr 10, 2015 09:17pm
@rony and WHAT IS IN NAME, Yes Nuclear Giants. Pakistan has more Nukes than India. Being from Amritsar I appreciate that Pakistan has a nuke deterrent as the wars between India and Pakistan have always caused harm in both Punjabs than any other states of both countries. People of both countries deserve to live in peace. Young and educated people of both countries have positive attitude. By 2047, both countries will be peace loving friends by saying good bye to 100 years of hate.
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Apr 15, 2015 01:18am
I am an optimist. If we have not learnt anything from from over 67 years of bloodshed and strife, we
have learnt nothing. A thin upper crush may have
ALL the luxuries to enjoy. Think, however, of the
downtrodden, living in misery, squalor and poverty.
A headline in a local newspaper reads:
"OBAMA, CASTRO VOW TO 'TURN THE PAGE' "
The leaders in India and Pakistan have this opportunity to turn the page. They will earn the
gratitude of millions and go down in history as
statesmen.
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Apr 15, 2015 01:24am
@Ahmed USA - I agree. Let's pray that saner counsel will prevail.
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