Source: Daily Times

Gen Sinha says boundaries becoming irrelevant in wake of globalisation

By Iftikhar Gilani

NEW DELHI: India’s ties with Pakistan have taken a dramatic, favourable turn over the past few years and the situation is now conducive to resolving all outstanding issues between the two countries, Indian-held Kashmir Governor Lt Gen (r) SK Sinha said on Tuesday.

A press release issued by the Governor’s House in Srinagar said General Sinha told British High Commissioner in India Sir Richard Staff during an hour-long meeting that both sides had shown flexibility and the restoration of democracy could help strengthen bilateral ties.

Noting that the Pakistani media was no longer involved in “India bashing”, Gen Sinha said decreasing hostility was a “positive and encouraging development”.

Gen Sinha said he was pleased with Pakistan’s transition from a military dictatorship to a civilian democracy and that India wanted its neighbours to prosper and progress.

Boundaries becoming irrelevant: He said economic issues would now dominate over the political problems. “Through economic development, a peaceful Kashmir can be part of an economic union in South Asia on the lines of European Union.”

“National boundaries are becoming irrelevant in the wake of globalisation and India and Pakistan should not lag behind,” he said.

Gen Sinha, who was earlier India’s ambassador in Nepal and is deemed close to the royal family in Katmandu, told the British diplomat that the success of Maoists in Nepal had demonstrated the triumph of “ballot over bullet”.

Jammu and Kashmir would also go to polls this year, he said. “Any claims to be the representative of the people of Kashmir is hollow unless that claim is supported by the people through an electoral process,” he said.

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Tags: Democracy, Globalization, India, Kashmir, Relations