ISLAMABAD: Pakistan army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa has called for the resolution of the Kashmir dispute through political and diplomatic means. His statement, at the annual 'Defence Day' speech last week, came two days after Pakistan Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif admitted for the first time that internationally proscribed terrorist organisations like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Muhammad were operating from within the country.
“The welfare of million of people of these two countries is linked with permanent peace. Instead of insulting Pakistan and using force against Kashmiris, it is in India's favour to seek resolution of the dispute through diplomatic and political means,” Bajwa said. Without naming India, he talked about a “neighbouring country”. “We did not bring nuclear weapons to South Asia, and even now these weapons are simply a guarantee of peace in answer to a neighbouring country which is high on power. It is this country which has brought unconventional war to the South Asian region.”
He said, “We have paid the price for the wars started by super powers, in the form of terrorism, extremism, and economic loss. We are abiding by our policy that we will not allow our soil to be used against any country, and expect the same of other countries.”
The Pakistan military leadership's change of approach gains significance in light of a consolidated global fight against terrorism. Pakistan has recently come under fire from all quarters, including the US, for harbouring terrorists.
