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No compromise on Kashmir: Jamali
London, July 04: Kashmir is the `lifeline` of Pakistan and it will not compromise on it, Pakistani premier Zafarullah Khan Jamali said today.
London, July 04: Kashmir is the 'lifeline' of
Pakistan and it will not compromise on it, Pakistani
premier Zafarullah Khan Jamali said today.
"As far as I am concerned, Kashmir is the lifeline. It's
not just a political issue; it's an economic issue too.
It's lifeline as far as Pakistan is concerned and we have
to keep that right in front of us and then decide," Jamali
told the a news channel.
Stating that he would not compromise on principles,
Jamali said, "I am a person who does not compromise on
principles. Issues, we can compromise on ... The major
principle between India and Pakistan is Kashmir. That is
the principle. On principle, you cannot compromise. On
issues, you can." He, however, did not elaborate.
Expressing his wish to improve relations with India,
Jamali said, "We have to improve. Why should I have a
hostile neighbour? A country that is stronger than us, a
country that is bigger than us. These are the facts and we
have to admit that."
Replying to a question on New Delhi's claim that Pakistan is not stopping "cross-border infiltration", Jamali said, "They've been saying it for years and years. Pakistan has vast borders and with all the military might India has put on those borders, even then they are saying that we are still crossing over. Doesn't make sense at all," he claimed.
"We have said very openly that we do not have training camps, we do not send people across, we have nothing to do with the whole structure, but the moral help has been there with the Kashmiris. They have suffered a lot... India is very far ahead as far as the media is concerned so it tries to convince people they try to depict their point of view, which we have not been able to cover. We shall try to do that."
Answering a question on who he would prefer to deal with - Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee or Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani in the event of a summit, the Pakistan Prime Minister said, "I don't find any difficulty. Vajpayee - I respect him - the dialogue we had - he's very reasonable man - a very amiable man - I think we can come to a certain conclusion.
"Advani also I don't find any difficulty - he speaks Sindhi - I speak fluent Sindhi, so we can communicate in Sindhi. But (it all) depends who represents India."
Asked who does he think India would like to deal with in a summit with Pakistan - choice between him and President Pervez Musharraf, the Pakistan Prime Minister said "I think, probably, they might prefer a civilian PM to talk to."
On who rules Pakistan after the return of the parliamentary form of democracy, President Musharraf or the Prime Minister, Jamali said, "After the elections since November 23, 2003, I think educated people ought to know who is commanding the ship. It's a democratic set up and in a democratic set up it's a Prime Minister who carries the weight."
Bureau Report
Replying to a question on New Delhi's claim that Pakistan is not stopping "cross-border infiltration", Jamali said, "They've been saying it for years and years. Pakistan has vast borders and with all the military might India has put on those borders, even then they are saying that we are still crossing over. Doesn't make sense at all," he claimed.
"We have said very openly that we do not have training camps, we do not send people across, we have nothing to do with the whole structure, but the moral help has been there with the Kashmiris. They have suffered a lot... India is very far ahead as far as the media is concerned so it tries to convince people they try to depict their point of view, which we have not been able to cover. We shall try to do that."
Answering a question on who he would prefer to deal with - Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee or Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani in the event of a summit, the Pakistan Prime Minister said, "I don't find any difficulty. Vajpayee - I respect him - the dialogue we had - he's very reasonable man - a very amiable man - I think we can come to a certain conclusion.
"Advani also I don't find any difficulty - he speaks Sindhi - I speak fluent Sindhi, so we can communicate in Sindhi. But (it all) depends who represents India."
Asked who does he think India would like to deal with in a summit with Pakistan - choice between him and President Pervez Musharraf, the Pakistan Prime Minister said "I think, probably, they might prefer a civilian PM to talk to."
On who rules Pakistan after the return of the parliamentary form of democracy, President Musharraf or the Prime Minister, Jamali said, "After the elections since November 23, 2003, I think educated people ought to know who is commanding the ship. It's a democratic set up and in a democratic set up it's a Prime Minister who carries the weight."
Bureau Report