Pakistan, India can’t be enemy forever: Janjua

• NSA says Islamabad, New Delhi need to engage with each other; welcomes US mediation offer

National Security Adviser (NSA) Nasser Khan Janjua on Tuesday reiterated Pakistan and India cannot be enemy forever, saying both the neighbours need to engage with each other and resolve disputes.

He was talking to High Commissioner of Canada to Pakistan Perry John Calderwood, who called him here. The two sides discussed regional dynamics and bilateral relations, Pakistan’s role in eradicating terrorism, counter-terrorism cooperation, implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) and the Pak-India relations with reference to the US offer for mediation.

Janjua underlined the need of non-discriminatory approach in considering Pakistan membership for Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG). Regarding increasing strategic imbalance of the South Asian region, the adviser said that the international community was over-looking Kashmir for some of their own strategic interests related to India.

He said that it was expected that the international community would stand with morality and human rights. Pakistan welcomes the US offer to mediate between Pakistan and India to resolve Kashmir while India has rejected the offer, he pointed out. Although India regards Kashmir a bilateral issue, yet it has defeated spirit of bilateralism by defying any dialogue, he said.

He said that Pakistan highly values its relationship with Canada which has helped significantly in its development efforts for decades through humanitarian assistance and developmental programmes. Janjua emphasised the need for high-level visits, enhanced trade, cooperation in education and development as well as facilitation of visa for better people-to-people contact.

He said that terrorism undoubtedly has turned into a global phenomena.

“Extreme thoughts are to be mitigated through change of perception, by winning hearts and minds and not by use of force alone,” he said, and highlighted implementation and achievements of NAP, which is a collective endeavour of people, civil and military.

Pakistan looked forward to strengthen and diversify its ties with Canada, he said. Calderwood said that Pakistan was a beautiful country with dynamic and entrepreneurial population, and unique and diverse culture. He stressed the importance of strengthening of bilateral ties between the two countries.

“Pakistan is an important partner of Canada and we enjoy multi-dimensional relationship with Pakistan,” he said. The high commissioner said that the relationship with Pakistan spans trade and educational opportunities as well as collaborating in peacekeeping, in combating crime and terrorism and in supporting democratic institutions. “Pakistan is on a threshold of economic boom and there exists a huge potential for Canadian firms to capitalize,” he said.