Speeches calling for genocide of Muslims have a potential to disturb the South Asian region, said former Foreign Minister of Pakistan Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri. In an address at the launch of a book edited by veteran peace activist O.P. Shah, Mr. Kasuri called for greater people-to-people contact and starting of bilateral dialogue between India and Pakistan.“Things have really nosedived. I was aghast... and I am sure a large number of Indians of goodwill were, when in Haridwar there were speeches made — that were unbelievable — asking for genocide of Muslims. All these have an impact on the region,” said Mr Kasuri, referring to the hate speeches made in a “Dharma Sansad” in Haridwar in December.
Mr. Kasuri served as Foreign Minister of Pakistan between 2002 and 2007 pointed at deteriorating bilateral relations as both sides continue to refrain from engaging each other in a formal bilateral dialogue.“War is not an option. Not a nuclear war which only a mad man will think of. Not even conventional war is possible,” said Mr Kasuri indirectly referring to the military incidents of February 2019 after the Pulwama attack.Mr Kasuri argued for convening of the summit for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and said India’s arguments on notconvening the regional summit does not make sense as both sides continue to participatein the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation(SCO) which is led by China.
