SPY EYES

Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said all physical battles and mind games over Kashmir had yielded nothing and it was time to seek a peaceful settlement to the problem through a process of dialogue.

“Pakistan and India have fought wars, played mind games and used every other tactic on Kashmir, but everything has failed,” Khar said in an interview at the Foreign Office in Islamabad. She said the only option available with the two countries was to engage in dialogue.

“During my press conference here in the same room with Indian Foreign Minister Krishna, I issued a statement which was prepared by the Indian bureaucrat, mentioning that the process should be uninterrupted and uninterruptible,” she said.

She however advocated for the inclusion of Kashmiris in the process. “There are three parties to the dispute, Pakistan, India and Kashmir, and true representatives of Kashmir should be included in the dialogue process,” said Khar.

She insisted that the Kashmir settlement was the key to peace in the region, and her government was exploring every possible option to open channels of dialogue with New Delhi for a permanent settlement of the issue. She wanted the Kashmiri leadership to get united to see a breakthrough in the process. “We would like to see the separatist leadership getting united,” Khar said.

She said Hurriyat conference (G) Chairman Syed Ali Geelani was an important stakeholder in the process adding that Geelani was an “honourable” and “influential” leader in the ongoing movement and his importance cannot be overlooked. “Geelani is a very honourable leader and represents a large chunk of population and sentiment. He couldn’t come because of his ailing health, but we are inviting him again and we would love to have consultations with him,” Khar added.