Despite continued fighting in the region, India and Pakistan's dispute over Kashmir shouldn't have to escalate to another war, according to a Pakistani military official visiting Honolulu. Pakistani general welcomes
talks over KashmirThe visiting official says the border
clash need not lead to warBy B.J. Reyes
Associated Press"I think the intractable issue of Kashmir, between India and Pakistan, can be solved through dialogue," said Brig. Gen. Banaras Khan Jadoon, director of intelligence and operations for Pakistan's Joint Services Headquarters.
Jadoon spoke Thursday following graduation ceremonies for 79 representatives from 33 countries attending the most recent executive course at the Asia-Pacific Center for Securities Studies.
The class of policy makers, analysts, researchers and government and military officials recently completed 12 weeks of course work designed to promote peace in the region and allow them to build relationships with each other.
Jadoon said he hopes other delegates, from India and Pakistan as well as from neighboring countries, return home with a mission of promoting cooperation among nations.
India and Pakistan -- both of which have flexed their nuclear muscles in a series of missile tests over the past few years -- have twice gone to war over the Himalayan enclave of Kashmir.
"Our leaders -- if they decide so and sit together in this spirit of mutual cooperation and harmony -- if they discuss such intractable issues (as Kashmir), I think there is no need to go to war and we can solve these problems," Jadoon said.
India accuses Pakistan of supporting Islamic guerrillas who are fighting for Kashmir's independence or merger with Pakistan. Pakistan denies giving training or weapons to the militants, though it backs their cause.
At least 60,000 people have been killed during the 12-year insurgency. India and Pakistan is just one world hot spot where delegates from the security studies center course will return. Other countries represented at the center include Indonesia, the Philippines, Korea, Taiwan, Russia and the United States.
Retired Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Hank Stackpole, president of the Fort DeRussy-based Asia-Pacific Center for Securities Studies, said he hopes delegates return home with the ability to consider another person's point of view.
On the Net:
Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, www.apcss.org