Indo,Pak desire peace but ground realities different:Pak Envoy

Pakistan High Commissioner Salman Bashir today said some of the subjects of Indo-Pak relations should be revisited as sincere desire for better relations were expressed in statements, "but sometimes the ground reality appears to be contrary."
"It is important that we start revisiting some of the subjects of Indo-Pak relations with an open mind," he said.
"I acknowledge that in our statements, we express most sincere and profound desire of better relations, but sometimes the ground reality appears to be contrary. And that is where the media comes in, as it has to play a great role in changing the narrative," Bashir told a meet-the-press programme at the Press Club here.

Noting that it was in the common interest of both the countries to have the best of relationships, he said, "We have a mechanism to address each others' concerns in the domain of crime, terrorism etc.
"So, if we allow those mechanisms to work, it will lead to much better situations," Bashir said, referring to the DGMO and DG level talks between BSF and Pakistani rangers.
"The two joints statements that were issued talk about constructive and forward-looking things. So, when you allow the people concerned to get in contact and work, the picture starts looking different. I think it's time we really start to look at each other with different prisms," Bashir said.

Holding that the leadership of both countries understood that they need to have friendly and cooperative relations, the envoy said it was time to move forward instead of remaining mired in stereotypes.
"It is generally understood by the leadership and the people of the two countries that they need to have good, friendly, cooperative relations. We need to sort of revisit and proceed on the basis of more enlightenment instead of remaining mired in stereotypes," he said.