20000207

Resolution of Kashmir issue through talks urged

ISLAMABAD: Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf enjoys fair amount of goodwill in Pakistan as the Pakistanis have to decide about the leadership that they want, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and a political analyst Rajmohan Gandhi said.

"It is up to Pakistanis to decide what sort of government and what sort of leadership that they need to have," he told CNN while commenting on the change of governmental set-up in Pakistan.

Gandhi said one has to acknowledge that the new Pakistani leaders, General Pervez Musharraf, enjoys fair amount of goodwill in Pakistan at the moment.

To a question, he said the present relations between India and Pakistan particularly on Kashmir have been at their lowest ebb in almost 30 years since 1971 war.

He suggested that both India and Pakistan should resolve Kashmir issue in a peaceful manner by sitting across the negotiating table.

Gandhi opposed the nuclear detonations by India.

"I think very few people would maintain that India's (nuclear) explosions followed by Pakistan's explosions has improved the security scenario in South Asia", he observed.

The nuclearisation of South Asia, he added, is a dangerous kind of situation.

He said there is a dire need of calm and cool planning adding, "some arrangements should be put in place to prevent any real explosions."

To a question Gandhi said for the last 50 years there has been a tremendous debate either to fulfil defence requirements or look after the developments needs of the people of two neighbours.

India-Pakistan normalisation of relations and reconciliation will be the single biggest boom for the poor people of India and Pakistan, he added. APP