Thaw in tensions? Pak Army chief says time to bury the past

New Delhi, Mar 19: Sending out positive signals, the chief of the Pakistan Army, General Qamar Javed Bajwa said that it is time for both India and Pakistan to bury the past and moved forward.

He said that the potential for regional peace and development always remained hostage to the disputes and issued between the two countries. We feel it is time to bury the past and move forward. The responsibility for a meaningful dialogue rested with India, the General also said.

His statements come a day after Pakistan's Prime Minister, Imran Khan made similar overtures towards India. Khan said that India would benefit economically by having peace with Pakistan. He said that this would enable New Delhi to directly access the resource rich Central Asia region through Pakistan territory. "India will have to take the first step. Unless they do so, we cannot do much," Khan said while delivering the inaugural address at the launch of the two-day Dialogue.

Our neighbour will have to create a conducive environment, particularly in Kashmir, Gen Bajwa said. He also said that any effort to improve ties without addressing the core issue would be vulnerable to external political factors.

"The Kashmir issue is at the heart of this. It is important to understand that without the resolution of the Kashmir dispute through peaceful means, the process will always remain susceptible to derailment to politically motivated bellicosity," he also said.

India had last month said that it desires normal relations with Pakistan in a terror free environment. Officials tell OneIndia that the onus would be on Pakistan to create an environment that is free from terror, hostility and violence.

In February, India and Pakistan announced that the ceasefire was being observed from the midnight of February 24. The two sides reviewed the situation along the Line of Control and all other sectors in a free, frank and cordial atmosphere, a joint statement read.

The statement issued by the armies of both countries said that the move followed a discussion between India's DGMO, Lt. General Paramjit Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Major General Nauman Zakaria.

The Director Generals of Military Operations of India and Pakistan held discussions over the established mechanism of hotline contact. The two sides reviewed the situation along the Line of Control and all other sectors in a free, frank and cordial atmosphere.

In the interest of achieving mutually beneficial and sustainable peace along the borders, the two DGsMO agreed to address each other's core issues and concerns which have propensity to disturb peace and lead to violence.Both sides agreed for strict observance of all agreements, understandings and cease firing along the Line of Control and all other sectors with effect from midnight 24/25 Feb 2021, the joint statement read.