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South Asia: Kashmiris Should Begin Dialogue, Pakistani Foreign Minister Says By Mike Nartker “I think Kashmiris can actually become the promoters of peace in the subcontinent, because they have a vested interest in peace,” Kasuri said during a speech at the Heritage Foundation after a meeting earlier in the day with national security adviser Condoleezza Rice. “So we should encourage a dialogue between Kashmiris on both the sides and start a dialogue amongst ourselves. And whether we like it or not, at some stage they have to be brought into it,” he said. India and Pakistan have gone to war three times since 1947, and almost fought again last year when an attack by Kashmiri militants on the Indian Parliament in December 2001 led to both sides mobilizing their armed forces for 10 months (see GSN, Oct. 17, 2002). The disputed region remains a potential flashpoint between the two nuclear-armed nations that requires a solution, according to Kasuri. “Supposing Pakistan and India decide to forget about Kashmir, because they feel it’s too hard. … Will Kashmiris let things rest? No, they won’t. Too much has happened,” Kasuri said. “So we have to find some solution … in which aspirations of the people of Kashmir are taken into consideration,” he said. Kasuri yesterday praised the United States for playing a role in helping the two countries move closer to beginning a new dialogue. A U.S. delegation headed by Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage met with senior officials in both countries last week (see GSN, May 12). “I think the United States played a very positive role,” Kasuri said. “I think they there were doing something that is very noble — trying to prevent two nuclear-armed countries from going for mass slaughter,” he said. Kasuri denied, however, that Washington was attempting to “pressure” the two countries into peace. “Pakistan and India are two large countries, very large countries. There’s no question of anybody imposing their will on India or Pakistan. But we need friends,” Kasuri said. “What happens is when two people stop talking to each other, you sometimes need friends who will make them talk to each other,” he said. Pakistan hopes the United States will continue to be involved in the region, Kasuri said. “We would ask the Americans to remain engaged in South Asia,” Kasuri said. “And hopefully, a time will come when no external input would be needed for the leaders of Pakistan and India to start talking to each other,” he said.
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