"There can never exist any friendship between Pakistan and India": Hameed Gul

Lahore, Sep 29 (ANI): Former DG Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt General (r) Hameed Gul has claimed that the Aman ki Asha (Hope for Peace) project is sponsored by the United States in order to boost its image by bringing the India and Pakistan closer.

Talking to a news channel, Gul termed the non-governmental programme, apparently aiming at creating and maintaining friendly ties between Indians and Pakistanis, as a failure, The Nation reported.

"There can never exist any friendship between Pakistan and India," he said.

Gul also blamed New Delhi for the targeted killings in Karachi and Balochistan, and claimed that the key to solution for the Kashmir problem lay in Kabul.

He said that despite the unrelenting brutalities meted out to Kashmiris by the Indian forces, peace in the valley could only be achieved after the people were given the right to self-determination.

Although India was now ready to give autonomy to the Kashmiris, their destination was nothing less than complete freedom from the Indian rule, he said, expressing hope that the moment of truth had arrived.

Commenting on Pakistani scientist and terror suspect Aafia Siddique's case, Gul claimed she was innocent, and that the US would release her within a week if Pakistan blocked the NATO supplies to Afghanistan.

"Pakistan controls the war in Afghanistan as it enjoys the control over the westerns supplies. The religious and political parties must stage a nationwide sit-in specifically against the Nato supplies. This will result in Aafia's return, end of US pressure on Pakistan and restoration of historic ties between Afghans and Pakistanis," he said. (ANI)