President General Pervez Musharraf’s Press Conference, 20 July 2001

  Opening Statement  

My visit to India was a mission of peace and friendship. I went to India to discuss ways of closing the chapter of hostility and confrontation between our two countries and to urge the Prime Minster of India to join hands with me in opening an era of friendship, good-neighbourliness and co-operation. In undertaking the visit to India, I was guided by the conviction that the legacy of mistrust between Pakistan and India can and must be overcome. As neighbours, the two countries have no other option but to live as friends. We both need an environment of peace and security. Development of normal, good-neighbourly relations between the two countries is in the interest of both. Pakistan is firmly committed to this goal.

The failure to resolve disputes between Pakistan and India has retarded economic and social development. Having become nuclear powers, it is even more essential that we take steps to remove the underlying causes of tension and confrontation. I held a series of meetings with Prime Minister Vajpayee on Pakistan- India relations. These meetings, the first at the Summit level between the two countries in the new century, were held in a cordial atmosphere and were marked by complete candour. I was impressed by Prime Minister Vajpayee’s commitment to the normalisation of our bilateral relations. Our ultimate goal is the full normalisation of relations with India. We would like to see enhanced trade and economic co-operation, free travel and increased cultural exchanges. All this can be achieved if disputes that exist between us are resolved and there is no tension and mistrust. A just and peaceful resolution of Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people is central to the normalisation of relations.

In my talks with the Indian Prime Minister, I stressed that we have a historic opportunity to resolve the Jammu and Kashmir dispute and develop peaceful, tension-free and co-operative relations. This opportunity must be seized. I emphasised that a settlement of Kashmir would open the doors of friendship and co-operation. The road to this destination cannot bypass Kashmir.

I reiterated our view that a settlement of the Kashmir dispute must be in accordance with the wishes of the people of Kashmir. The APHC must participate in negotiations on the future of Kashmir.

During my visit to India, I had very useful discussions with the APHC on a peaceful settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. I assured them that Pakistan will continue to extend its moral, political and diplomatic support to the just struggle of the Kashmiri people. My visit to India marked the end of a two-year hiatus in Pakistan-India dialogue. It was our effort at the Summit meeting that this dialogue should be institutionalised. It was also our effort that discussions on a peaceful settlement of Kashmir should take place at a political level and should be substantive and meaningful. We were prevented from signing the mutually agreed Joint Declaration because the Indian side had second thoughts about it. We are disappointed that a Joint Declaration which could have laid down the road map for the establishment of a peaceful tension-free and co-operative relationship between the two countries could not be signed. Nevertheless, we reached understandings which signify a substantial forward step in our bilateral relations. Pakistan would like to build on this and move rapidly towards the destination of amity, good-neighbourliness and co-operation with India.

Pakistan attaches particular importance to a discussion on nuclear risk reduction and nuclear-related confidence building measures. We are committed to a nuclear policy of restraint and responsibility. We have strengthened custodial controls in Pakistan. The two countries need to take further steps, unilaterally and jointly, to reduce the risk of accidental and unauthorised use of nuclear weapons. We look forward to discussions on this issue at the level of Foreign Ministers.

We also discussed the important issue of regional co-operation in South Asia. We agreed that the SAARC process should be fully resumed in accordance with the Charter and that the Eleventh SAARC Summit should be convened on the earliest possible dates. Prime Minister Vajpayee has accepted my invitation to visit Pakistan. We also agreed to meet in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly this September. The Foreign Minister invited his Indian counterpart to visit Pakistan at an early date. We look forward to these visits to carry forward the process initiated at Agra. Pakistan remains committed to the path of amity, good-neighbourliness and co-operation with India. The Agra Summit was an important step on this path. We intend to continue this journey.