PAKISTAN army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Thursday (18) said that it is time for India and Pakistan to 'bury the past and move forward' as it would help to 'unlock' the potential of South and Central Asia.
While addressing a session of the first-ever Islamabad security dialogue, General Bajwa added that the potential for regional peace and development always remained hostage to the disputes between the two countries.
"Our neighbour will have to create a conducive environment, particularly in Kashmir. Any effort to improve ties without addressing the core issue would be vulnerable to external political factors," said General Bajwa.
"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."
His remarks came a day after prime minister Imran Khan said that India will be benefitted economically by having peace with Pakistan as it will enable the country to directly access the resource-rich Central Asia region.
General Bajwa added: "Despite being impoverished, we end up spending a lot of our money on defence, which naturally comes at the expense of human development. Pakistan was resisting the temptation to become part of the arms race or increase defence budget despite rising security challenges.
"This has not been easy, especially when you live in a hostile and unstable neighbourhood. Let me say that we are ready to improve our environment by resolving all our outstanding issues with our neighbours through dialogue in a dignified and peaceful manner.
"Today, the leading drivers of change in the world are demography, economy and technology. One issue that remains central to this concept is economic security and cooperation. Since national security involved ensuring human security, national progress and development, it was not solely the function of the armed forces and required a national effort to safeguard a nation."
India and Pakistan had announced on February 25 that they have agreed to strictly observe all agreements on ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir and other sectors.
India last month said that it desires normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan in an environment free of terror, hostility and violence.
Davindra and Seema Misra, and Vijay and Gita Parekh
Varchas Patel with his father Vipin and mother Jayshriben
Hasmukh Shingadia and his wife Chandrika were all victims of the Horizon scandal
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session. (Photo: Hertfordshire Police /Handout via REUTERS)
Man pleads not guilty to murder of BBC presenter's family
A 26-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to charges of murdering the wife and two daughters of BBC sports commentator John Hunt in a crossbow and knife attack.
Kyle Clifford, who also faces charges of rape, appeared via video link at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday.
Clifford, arrested in July after a manhunt, is charged with three counts of murder, one count each of rape and false imprisonment, and two counts of possessing offensive weapons – a 10-inch knife and a crossbow.
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session.
He is expected to enter a plea for that charge at a later date.
The victims were Carol Hunt, 61, wife of horseracing commentator John Hunt, and their daughters Louise, 25, and Hannah, 28.
An earlier hearing revealed that Louise had been found tied up and that both she and her sister had been shot with a crossbow, while their mother had been stabbed with a knife.
The fatal attack occurred at the family’s home in Bushey, a commuter town near Watford, northwest of London.
(With inputs from AFP)