Sinha calls for continuation of India-Pakistan peace process

Islamabad, June 9 (UNI) Senior BJP leader and former External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha here today called for continuation of the India-Pakistan peace process and added in the last two years had created a ''sizable constituency'' for peace and amity.

Speaking to Pakistani journalists at a seminar organised by the South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) Mr Sinha said dialogue should continue in an atmosphere of sincerity.

India and Pakistan had resumed their peace talks, also known as the composite dialogue process, in February 2004 when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was in power at the Centre.

He said the BJP also remained committed to the dialogue process, adding the two countries must remain optimistic to ''reach somewhere'' in their talks, which are aimed to resolve all outstanding issues between them.

Mr Sinha said none of the statements issued after talks between the two countries ever described Kashmir as the ''core issue''.

''Kashmir is one of the issues between the two countries,'' he said bit added calling it the ''core issue'' will hamper the progress on other fronts.

''This mindset is counter-productive,'' he said without actually naming Pakistan, which calls Kashmir as the ''core issue''.

Mr Sinha said India would be ready to go an extra mile in promoting peace and security provided problems of militancy and terrorism in the neighbourhood are not exported to his country.

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