Time has come for India and Pakistan to engage in talks with an open heart leaving behind nearly 70 years of hostility to resolve all outstanding issues as well as to rid the region of terrorism, a prominent Pakistani Islamic cleric said today.
Muhammad Tahir ul-Qadri, who had led a massive protest against Nawaz Sharif regime in Islamabad one-and-half years back, said use of religion as a front to promote terrorism should not at all be tolerated and both countries should join hands to defeat the menace.
Expressing serious concern over growing efforts to radicalise young minds, he also called for urgent measures such as introduction of counter-radicalisation curriculum in schools, colleges, universities, madrassas and institutions run by religious bodies to educate youths about terrorism and extremism.
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Strongly pitching for dialogue between India and Pakistan, Qadri said both the countries must decide whether they want to continue nearly seven decade hostility between each other which had devastating consequences or would prefer a path of peace, economic growth and development.
"If they decide this basic point, then only a new chapter of good relations can start. Proper dialogues should start between the governments at differnt levels and finally at top level. All issues which always remained the basis of tension should be discussed with an open heart and mind," Qadri told PTI.
The 65-year-old cleric said all issues including Kashmir, Mumbai terror attack and Pathankot attack should be discussed. "We are wasting lot of our energy, budgets, resources, time and mental faculty because of our hostile relationships. This should end."
On India affected by terror infrastructure operating from Pakistani soil, he called terrorism enemy of mankind and said both countries must agree that it is their common foe.
"Terrorism is an enemy of mankind in every aspect and I will feel it will be a great success if India and Pakistan sit together and accept that we have a common enemy.
"If you see 70 years have passed and the position is that India considers Pakistan its enemy Pakistan considers India its enemy. These things have been ingrained in the minds of people. First of all they have to say no to it. They have to agree that terrorism is the common enemy," said the cleric.
The region, Qadri said, will be deprived of development if
terrorism is not uprooted, he said demanding strong action against those using religion to support terrorism. He did not give a specific reply when asked about terror groups operating from Pakistani soil.
Asked how to deal with radicalisation, he said specific curriculum should be introduced in schools, colleges, universities, madrassas and any other religious institutions.
"A specific subject should be introduced in curriculum right from the primary school. It should be introduced in secondary school, colleges to universities. In the same way it should be introduced in the madrassas, in the mosques, in temples and in all religious institutions.
"We need to introduce peace, counter-terrorism and de-radicalisation as subjects so that the youth may understand that extremistic views, to be extreme to others is something which is not acceptable by our religion," he said.
The religious leader said extremism, radicalisation and terrorism are the main challenges facing the region and India and Pakistan must come together to defeat them.
"Wherever terrorism exists, wherever are the roots, whatever are the groups, everybody knowns about it. Both India and Pakistan should take common action. Unless terrorism is uprooted, the region will be deprived of development," he said.
Asked to comment on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's trip to Lahore, he refused, saying the relationship between people of the two countries should improve.
"Both the countries have genuine concerns, may be some of them are right, some of them are wrong. May be some of them are just accusations. But some of them have content. That is why I emphasise on a dialogue with open mind and open heart," he said.
