Pakistan has said it does not have an Alladin's lamp to put an end to cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, but was ready to cooperate with India in this regard.
"Our government is trying its level best to stop it," Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri said while participating in a special phone-in programme of BBC Hindi, Aap Ki Baat BBC Ke Saath, broadcast in London on Sunday night.
Pointing out that even America could not seal the border with Mexico, Kasuri said, "If the Indian Army cannot stop them, then which Alladin's lamp do we have that we rub it and all this stops?"
"We are trying, come let us try together so that we are able to give hope to the Kashmiris and there is peace in this region."
Answering a question on India's demand that cross border terrorism, especially from that of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir would have to stop before resumption of dialogue, Kasuri said, "We have repeatedly been saying that we are trying, we have told the world about this. Your own retired army chief Gen Padmanabhan has admitted this. Even Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, while speaking in the Lok Sabha mentioned this."
Throughout the lengthy question and answer session, Kasuri emphasised the need for a sustained composite dialogue between Pakistan and India on all issues, including Kashmir, so that the 'result would be good' and there would be peace and development in the region.
"Unfortunately, we have fought three wars with India, and last year we were close to another war. Once the Indian and Pakistani prime ministers talk, I have full confidence that then the violence, hostility and militancy from both sides of the border would come down."
Asked why the two countries could not accept the Line of Control (LoC) as the International border between the two countries, the Pakistan foreign minister said, "At the moment, we are not talking of solutions. The ultimate solution would be one in which there would be no defeat for either India or Pakistan."
"It would be extremely foolish at this stage to talk of solutions. If we do that, then the efforts that we are making for a dialogue would be sabotaged even before the talks.
The journalists, columnists in both the countries are free to write as they have the freedom to do so. But those involved in the process - the foreign ministers, the prime ministers and the presidents should not go into the details at this stage."
"If we do so, then both the sides would go back to their stated positions: India would say J&K is an integral part of the country and Pakistan would insist on implementation of the United Nations Security Council resolution.
Therefore, wisdom at this stage demands that we concentrate on the dialogue. We should sustain the dialogue."
"We have said many times that once talks between India and Pakistan start, we would be in a position to raise the hope of Kashmiris. Once they have hope, things could change," Kasuri added.
More from rediff