WASHINGTON: The US is playing a "positive role in pushing and prodding India" to lower tension and start dialogue with Pakistan, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's envoy has said.
"We feel that the US has a positive role in pushing and prodding India to lower the temperature and start talking to Pakistan rather than talking at Pakistan," Special Kashmir Envoy of Sharif, Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed told PTI at the conclusion of his five-day trip to the US.
"One expression of that was the phone call initiated by Ajit Doval, National Security Advisor to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and there has been a follow up phone call. The purpose of those phone calls was to diffuse tension," said Sayed, who was here with Shezra Mansab, another Kashmir Envoy.
He said Modi is "not from the Indian Delhi establishment, where you have unsmiling crusty old men who are always sulking and who are stuck in old cold war mentality, as he is an outsider.
"I feel that there would be SAARC Summit in Islamabad. Modi will come there. And he would embrace Nawaz Sharif. I think, Modi would realise that this is the way forward," Syed added.
"Modi has the capacity to spring a surprise. One good thing about him is that he is flexible enough to do U turns. So I expect a good U turn probably in the coming months in our relations and we might see pleasant surprise in relations with South Asia, because Modi and Sharif have a good rapport and I think, Modi is preparing his people for this U turn.
"Because he (Modi) realises that two important core interest of India are linked with that. Number one relationship with Pakistan and the Kashmir conflict are the biggest impediment in the rise of India. India wants to rise, they want to be on the high table, Nuclear Suppliers Group, UN Security Council. No, till you have better relationship with Pakistan," Syed said.
Syed warned that a war with Pakistan would push back Indian economy by 10 years, which he said Modi does not want.
"He (Modi) cannot afford. This raising of tension would be devastating, debilitating and damaging for India. We do not want to respond to war rhetoric (coming from India) by war rhetoric. We are not responding to India in its tone. We still want peace," Mansab said.
Us Moving Towards India For ‘Political Gains’: Pak Envoy
Pakistan felt the need to develop close ties with Russia after the “U—turn” in US policy towards India, one of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s special envoys has said and alleged that America is strengthening ties with India for “political gains”.
In a programme organised by the think tank Atlantic Council in Washington, Mushahid Hussain Syed said, “We [Pakistan] are observing a change in US diplomatic policy”.
. Hussain said “every action has a reaction, and Pakistan felt the need to develop close ties with Russia after President Barack Obama’s two visits to India.
“This was the start of a new chapter in Pakistan—Russia ties,” . Hussain was quoted as saying by Dawn News.
The senator added that Russia is in favour of building a working relationship with countries of the region and it has also started a dialogue process with Afghan Taliban through back-door channels.
He said the U.S. State Department had refused to give visa to then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in 2006, but when . Modi was elected as Prime Minister, the U.S. changed its policy for “political gains”.
“This U—turn of U.S. policy can be traced back to the time of Bush administration, when the U.S.—India nuclear deal was signed which was against the law of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons,” said . Hussain.
“Stability of Afghanistan and eradication of terrorism is a top priority of the U.S., which needs Pakistan to play a role in the peace-process. Pakistan is not only providing its assistance in the peace process but also facing damages,” the senator said.
He also said that violating Indus Waters Treaty will be an “act of war”.
“Apart from Pakistan and India, the World Bank is also a stakeholder in the treaty,” said . Hussain.
Commenting on the Uri attack in Jammu and Kashmir, Husain said, “UN military observer group for India and Pakistan should investigate the Uri attack. Crossing the Line of Control to attack any target in India is not possible for any militant.”
He added that if India has any evidence or intelligence regarding the attack, it should be shared with Pakistan.
A contingent of Russian ground forces arrived in Pakistan earlier in September for the first ever joint Pak—Russian military exercise.
The two-week-long exercise is expected to continue until October 10. Around 200 military personnel of both countries will participate in the drills.
The exercises with Russian ground forces came amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan.
No Breakthrough Likely In Indo-Pak Ties During PM Modi's Tenure: Aziz
Adviser to the Pakistan Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz has said there could be no expectation of any breakthrough in relations between Pakistan and India during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tenure.
Aziz said Pakistan had been resisting India's hegemonistic attitude in the region and calling for the promotion of bilateral ties on an equal basis, Pakistan Today reported.
He said the joint session of the Pakistani parliament had unanimously adopted a resolution that encompassed all issues including the "condemnation of brutalities in Kashmir, ceasefire violations at Line of Control by India, negation of Indian view of Kashmir as its integral part, condemnation of Indian threat to revoke Indus Waters Treaty and Indian intervention in Balochistan".
Aziz said the main agenda of all these efforts was to show the world that the entire Pakistan was united against Indian aggression.
During interactions at various platforms across the globe the majority viewed that dialogue should resume between the two nations, he said.
Responding to a question regarding Home Minister Rajnath Singh's remarks of sealing Indian borders with Pakistan by 2018, Aziz said there was no harm in sealing the Pak-India border if public movement and trade were maintained.
According to Radio Pakistan, Aziz said India cannot succeed in diverting the world attention from the Kashmir issue through the September 18 "Uri-like self staged incidents".
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