120 Whither Kashmir? (Part II) - Islamabad Policy Research Institute

38 IPRI Factfile
rendered numerous sacrifices. No one should doubt Pakistan’s sincerely
to fight militancy, he said.
The spokesman said that security and development were two
cornerstones of Pakistan’s foreign policy. The spokesman said that
Pakistan did not believe in talks for the sake of talks, rather wanted these
to be result-oriented and meaningful, leading to resolution of all the
outstanding issues including the core issue of Kashmir. He said that the
resolution of core disputes would also help tackle other problems faced
by the region, including poverty and disease.
“Pakistan will strive to ensure that talks with India are irreversible
because abrupt severing of negotiations only benefits forces inimical to
both Pakistan and India,” he maintained. To another question, he said
that a major change had been observed in the US policy about Pakistan
and American people also wanted an end to drone strikes inside Pakistan.
Regarding war against terrorism, he said, it could not be won through
force only. Abdul Basit said there were some forces on both sides who
wanted to disrupt the peace process and now it was the responsibility of
the leadership of the two countries to foil their designs.
Nation (Islamabad), February 16, 2010.
http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-englishonline//Politics/16-Feb-2010/India-wasted-a-year-by-suspending-talks-FO
LEGALITY OF INDIAN CLAIM ON KASHMIR
Following the World War-II, there has been an unremitting resistance by
the people of Subcontinent against the ruling British colonial power.
Under the swelling pressure of the people of subcontinent, the British
Government finally had to announce the partition of the Subcontinent
on June 3, 1947. However, the British Parliament formally passed “The
Indian Independence Act-1947” on July 17, 1947. As per provision of
Article-I of the Independence Act, India was to be partitioned into two
Dominions namely “India” and “Pakistan” from 15th day of August
1947. However, Article 7 of the Indian Independence Act very clearly
states that from 15th August 1947, “the suzerainty of His Majesty over
the Indian states lapse and with it lapses all treaties and agreements in
force at the date of the passing of this Act between His Majesty and the
rulers of Indian states”. Consequent upon this, all powers and functions,
which were exercisable by the British Government in relation to the
Princely States, also ceased.