M A I N   N E W S

Pak asks India to make sacrifice

Islamabad, August 11
Urging India to make a sacrifice in the spirit of give and take to settle the Kashmir issue, Pakistan Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali today told a visiting Indian delegation of parliamentarians and journalists that his country wanted peace in the region.

“Kashmir is the core issue and it can’t be sidelined,” said the Pakistani premier, who hosted a lunch for the Indian delegates attending a peace conference of parliamentarians and journalists from both sides.

Stressing that the two countries must resolve disputes through dialogue, he said, “Our desire is that Pakistan and India must live in peace and respect each other,” state-run Pakistan TV quoted him as saying.

Renewing his invitation to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Mr Jamali said that a permanent solution to the Kashmir issue could be found if there was a spirit of sacrifice and give and take.

India, he said, should make a sacrifice by virtue of being the bigger country.

The rulers should focus on the resolution of the Kashmir dispute, so that the people could live in peace, Mr Jamali said.

He said Pakistan was ready for a composite dialogue with India to discuss all issues, including Kashmir.

Sources close to the Indian delegation said the Prime Minister renewed Pakistan’s quest for dialogue with India and recalled his telephonic talk with Mr Vajpayee.

He welcomed the Indian delegation for visiting Pakistan and hoped that the interaction between the people of the two countries would help improve bilateral ties.

On the second day of the deliberation at the conference, the two sides focussed on building cultural ties and enhancing people-to-people contacts.

Ms Margaret Alva, Congress MP, suggested the resumption of air and train links and said people-to-people contacts should be increased.

The Indian delegation is scheduled to meet President Pervez Musharraf over a cup of tea tomorrow. — PTI