Pakistan Army chief reaches out to India, says time to bury past, move forward

Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa seeks ‘conducive environment’ in Kashmir, does not mention UN resolutions, 2019 changes.

The Pakistani military establishment signalled a potentially radical shift in how it has traditionally viewed relations with India in a speech by Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Thursday, which set out a vision of regional economic integration for the betterment of both countries and for South Asia — with the only ask that New Delhi create a “conducive environment” in Kashmir for the resumption of a dialogue towards peace between the two countries.

Bajwa, who spoke at a high-powered event called Islamabad Security Dialogue organised by Pakistan’s national security establishment, did not specify what he meant by “conducive” conditions in Kashmir, but it was significant that he did not mention the Pakistani mantra of the United Nations Security Council resolutions on Kashmir, nor did he demand a rollback of the August 5, 2019 changes in Jammu & Kashmir.

“It is important to understand that without the resolution of Kashmir dispute through peaceful means, process of sub-continental rapprochement will always remain susceptible to derailment due to politically motivated bellicosity. However, we feel that it is time to bury the past and move forward,” the Pakistan Army chief said, qualifying that “for resumption of peace process or meaningful dialogue, our neighbour will have to create conducive environment, particularly in [Kashmir].”

Stable India-Pakistan relations, he said, was “a key to unlock the untapped potential of South and Central Asia by ensuring connectivity between East and West Asia”, but this potential had been hostage to disputes and issues between the two “nuclear armed” neighbours, with Kashmir at the top of the list of problems.

On Wednesday, speaking on the first day of the same event, Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has often said that his government and the Army are “on the same page”, also projected a vision of connectivity and economic prosperity for the region, but said Kashmir remained the “biggest hurdle between the two countries”.

Pakistan had made all efforts for better ties with India, PM Khan said, and now “India will have to take the first step. Unless they do so, we cannot do much”..

Source:the Indian express