Kingdom urged to mediate on Kashmir

Saudi Arabia would be the ideal country to mediate between India and Pakistan on Kashmir, according to former Azad Kashmir Prime Minister Sardar Atiq.
Atiq made the proposal in a meeting with journalists and Kashmiri community members after performing Umrah on Friday.
He said Saudi Arabia has considerable standing in the world, particularly Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries and would solve many issues concerning the disputed territory.
“We want peace in the region. All Kashmiris are ready to accept a peaceful decision. We want discussions to solve the crisis of the Kashmiri people. It's better if a third party is involved in solving the issue of Kashmir."
He further said it was important to involve the Kashmir leadership in all the talks and agreements between Pakistan and India, because it would help solve issues between the two countries.
“The Pakistan people and the military have never disappointed us but the politicians have. Previously Kashmir was at the top of Pakistan's agenda but now it’s not,” he said.
He said the withdrawal of NATO from Afghanistan expected in 2014 would not help Kashmir or Pakistan. To stabilize the country, politicians should join hands to solve issues of gas, water and electricity. He claimed that an unstable Pakistan would see India cause problems for the people of Kashmir.
Atiq said the arrest of former Pakistani military ruler Pervez Musharraf could cause further instability in the country and affect the forthcoming May 11 elections. It would be better if Musharraf were allowed to leave, so that everyone could focus their attention on the elections.
He said Musharraf's arrest has already affected election campaigning because at least one party has decided to campaign indoors. The Pakistani government cannot guarantee the safety of politicians, he said.
He said that he could not see a strong government in the country after the elections. “These elections are not taking place because the country and nation is ready for elections but because politicians want power." He accused some politicians of wanting to change the law so that they can be immune from prosecution. He also accused Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari of doing little for the country while he has been in power.