ELECTIONS '98
COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ARCHIVES

Sharief exhorts SAARC to take up security, Kashmir issues

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief today again brought up the Jammu and Kashmir issue at the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation summit, seeking to get the South Asian countries involved in a big way in its resolution. He also called for a South Asian security and development conference for discussions on issues of peace, security and development.

Addressing the summit, he demanded the setting up of a high council of foreign ministers of South Asian countries immediately to examine the causes of tension that threatened regional peace and security.

''The high council may offer its good offices, or upon agreement of the parties, convert itself into a committee of inquiry, mediation or conciliation.''

The Pakistan prime minister said member countries with bilateral problems should engage in a sincere dialogue to resolve them. He also said there was a need for Pakistan and India to should engage in a sustained dialogue.

''Pakistan is ready for the immediate resumption of bilateral foreign secretary-level talks on the basis of the understanding reached between India and Pakistan on June 23, 1997.''

He proposed a peace, security and development initiative for South Asia as this would have a bilateral as well as regional framework.

Urging SAARC to redefine its role and priorities, Sharief said it could not remain indifferent to, or pretend to be oblivious of, the differences and tensions between its members.

''In my view, the primary reason for the failure of SAARC to live up to its promise lies in the fact that it excludes the discussion of political problems.''

Peace, he said, was inseparable from progress and development. ''Without an environment of peace, security and stability, efforts towards mutually beneficial regional co-operation would have limited success.'' He said the SAARC deliberations were being held against the backdrop of the dangerous security environment in the region.

''The nuclear tests by India and the reactive tests by Pakistan in May this year have transformed the political and security landscape of the region. The shock waves have heightened fears for peace and stability in South Asia,'' he said.

He said Pakistan's efforts and advocacy over the last two decades to keep the region free of nuclear weapons did not bear fruit.

''Our proposals, reiterated time and again at the bilateral, regional and multilateral levels, did not evoke a positive response. Nor did our intention to avoid confrontation and pursue the path of dialogue to resolve outstanding problems strike a resonant chord,'' he said.

The Pakistani leader said that, left to itself, Pakistan would never have embarked on the perilous course of conducting the tests.

''Pakistan has never coveted arsenals. I am personally a man of peace. Wars, aggression or power projection have never been on my agenda for Pakistan," he said.

Sharief said SAARC's founding fathers had sought to develop co-operation among member states for the betterment of the people of the region and to engender mutual trust and confidence.

''Regrettably, this goal continues to elude us. The belief that in the course of time, increased interaction would lead to greater trust, confidence and understanding among member states had not been transformed into a reality,'' he said.

The problems facing the countries of the region, he said, could not be wished away. These had to be faced squarely and solution must be found.

Noting that a decision was taken at the last SAARC summit in Male calling for a process of informal political consultations, he said the eminent persons group constituted by SAARC had recommended that this process should be carried forward to achieve the objective of the SAARC charter -- to foster mutual trust, understanding and friendly relations among member countries.

The Pakistani leader said SAARC was at a major turning point in its history today.

''We have the option of either moving forward together on the path of mutually beneficial co-operation or taking the road to confrontation. SAARC faces its greatest challenge since its creation," he said, adding, that the association should work to remove the underlying causes of tension from South Asia.

Tell us what you think of this report