Indo-Pak ties have seen 'sea change' after CBMs, says Khurshid M Kasuri

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khurshid M Kasuri on Sunday said the country's relations with India have undergone a "sea change" after the composite dialogue process was initiated and that "political will" was needed to resolve all outstanding issues.

There was improvement in Indo-Pak ties after the implementation of the confidence building measures, Kasuri said to a question on the peace process at a joint press conference here after his talks with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing.

"We still need to resolve our disputes," Kasuri, who will arrive in New Delhi to take part in the SAARC Foreign Ministers talks to be held tomorrow, said, but added that "all in all, the atmosphere is better if you take one test.

"Four years ago there were one million soldiers on the border eye-ball to eye-ball for months. Now there is a sea change if you compare the situation to that," he said.

"We have signed some important agreements including pre-notification on testing of missiles and avoidance and prevention of nuclear accidents. These are very important agreements and should not be minimised. But even on issues that divided Pakistan and India like Kashmir and Sir Creek and Siachen, I think it is fair to say that there has been a lot of discussion on those, and in the case of Kashmir, I can say without fear of contradiction that there has been more discussions on Kashmir in the last three years than in the last 60 years," Kasuri said.

"On the whole you can say that direction is right in south Asia and Pakistan is committed to improve its relations with India and resolve all outstanding issues on the principles of justice and fair play," Kasuri said.

The Minister said, "We hope that the good work that had been done will be translated into reality. That of course requires political leadership on part of both the countries.

"So, ultimately it becomes a matter of political will".

Kasuri said SAARC itself has made a lot of progress after the "landmark" meeting in January 2004.

"I think a lot of progress has been made. There are still differences on various agreements between the two countries, but I think they are resolvable. Why do I say that? It is because the trend is right," he said.

"I admit there was very little trade initially. But I am looking at the direction. The direction is positive. The official trade has already crossed 1.3 billion dollars. If you forget the posturing...the arguments and the spinning that goes on all the time, the direction is right. And I have no doubts, that given the goodwill on both sides, even issues that divide us on matters concerning SAARC will be resolved," he said.