Hyderabad: Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India Salman Bashir yesterday described as baseless media reports on infiltrations and called for both neighbours to address their concerns through dialogue instead of whipping up frenzy.
He called for leaving the issue to be addressed by the military authorities rather than pointing fingers. He also found fault with the way the media, especially news channels, were focusing on “so-called incursions and infiltrations”.
Talking to reporters here, he maintained that Pakistan wanted peace on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir and was ready for dialogue on all difficult issues to resolve them amicably. He stressed the need for broad-ranging engagement through dialogue to build confidence saying “you address our concerns and we will address yours”.
Bashir pointed out that at the recent meeting between the prime ministers of the two countries in New York, it was decided that director generals, military operations should be asked to give suggestions to ensure ceasefire is respected.
Criticising television channels, he said some of them were making good business out of, what he called, negative reporting about Pakistan. “Friendship can flourish only if it is nurtured and cultivated in hearts and minds of people and by poisoning the hearts and minds of the people, you are killing the very soil on which it is to be based,” he said.
Bashir called for restoring the dialogue process. “We should resolve that whatever incident happens, we will not deviate and will continue to tread this path,” he said.
Bashir, who is a on a two-day visit to Hyderabad, planted a tree at biodiversity park, the foundation stone of which was laid during the global biodiversity conference last year.
“We are not only showing our commitment to convention on biodiversity but also planting a tree of friendship. We hope to see these trees grow and under their shade people develop and prosper with peace,” the envoy said.
On his first visit to any city in south India, he was impressed with the city’s development, especially in the information technology sector. “I am happy to be in this historic city. It has its own importance and reflects India’s culture and civilization. People are civilized, peaceful and content,” he said.
“Hyderabad symbolises the best. We are proud of this city, its past glory and present development. It can serve as symbol of hope for the people of this region as a whole,” Bashir said while referring to the talent and creativity of people of both India and Pakistan.
He called for more people-to-people interactions and the cooperation between educational institutions of the two countries. “We not only want more road, rail and air links but we also want visa complexities to be simplified,” he added.
IANS
