Kashmir ‘unfinished business’ for Pak, says ex-envoy

After Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif described Kashmir as ''unfinished agenda'' of the United Nations, Husain Haqqani, Pakistan's former envoy to the United States, on Friday said Kashmir has been an ''unfinished business'' for the last 69 years and will remain so for the next 69 years.

"If someone says that something is an 'unfinished business', they should remember that Kashmir is an unfinished business for last 69 years and will remain so for another 69 years and no further action would take place," Haqqani told ANI.

Virtually admitting that Pakistan's politics was to blame for inimical relations, he said, ''I don't think that Pakistan's internal political condition is that stable as to allow any leader to ensure cordial relationship between India and Pakistan.''

The former Pakistani envoy, however, called on both India and Pakistan to first try to be friends and then talk about their disagreements.

"I believe that it would be better if India and Pakistan should first try to be friends and then talk about their disagreements. But as of now, it doesn't seem to be happening. As far as terrorists and people like Hafiz Saeed are concerned, I believe that they can only increase hatred and cannot increase Pakistan's prosperity and happiness," Haqqani said.

"Similarly, if in India, some people say that enmity with Pakistan is the only solution, then also it would not benefit the bilateral relationship of the countries. I think all the disagreements should be kept aside and emphasis should be put on friendship," he added.

The Pakistan prime minister has vowed to raise the Kashmir issue on every international platform and provide all sort of support to the Kashmiris.

Sharif made the remarks in Islamabad while talking to the newly-elected lawmakers of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) after his party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) won a majority in the 21 July elections.