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'Indo-Pak talks will definitely resume'

Last Updated 23 January 2015, 02:09 IST

Speaking about his new book “Neither A Hawk, Nor A Dove” at the Jaipur Literature Festival, Pakistan’s former Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri said that dealing with Indo-Pak relations needs a huge degree of optimism. 

Kasuri, who held the foreign affairs portfolio during the regime of Gen Pervez Musharraf, felt that peace talks between the two countries will “definitely” resume.  “Things will improve and talks will resume. In my book I have explained why it will happen. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has come up on basis of Vikas (development). If that is going to remain the agenda and that must remain Pakistan’s agenda, neither of the countries will have any choice other than to resume talks,” said Kasuri.

The title of the book is inspired by the first conversation between Gen Musharraf and Kasuri. “General asked- Are you a hawk or a dove on India, Kasuri Saheb. I replied – you will come to know in short time,” said Kasuri. 

The reply was not in haste but I was clear in my vision as I had been involved in India-Pakistan peace process for the last 25 years before the talks resumed, he added. The book will hit the stands in February.

The book provides a detailed account of Indo-Pak diplomacy through the eyes of Kasuri. The book presents an account on how the peace process picked up between the two countries and what the political and diplomatic scenario was before and after the talks.

“Why were we doing what we were doing? My Indian friends would tell me that whatever I was trying to do will not happen because Pakistan army won’t allow this. So I have written a whole chapter on Pak military. I am not an author or writer, but whatever has been written in the book is completely authenti,” said Kasuri.   People will be able to understand what we did on the backchannel framework on Kashmir, which I think is still the only solution that can work, said Kasuri. 

Waheeda Rehman draws crowd

Widely recognised as the most enduring and gifted actor of her time, Waheeda Rehman captured the imagination of the last 60 years of Indian cinema. It was no surprise that her session at the ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival was crowded in spite of the bad weather and rainfall.

Rehman was nostalgic about her early years in Bollywood saying that she really loved her times when acting was natural and simple. 

She spoke of her relationship and admiration for Dev Anand as a co-actor. “There is no actor other than Dev Anand,  I am more fond of,” she declared.

Talking about the distinctive experience of working with filmmakers like Guru Dutt and Satyajit Ray, Rehman observed that Dutt was silent and sober, while Ray was always clear in his mind about what he wanted and had considerable editing expertise as well.

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(Published 22 January 2015, 18:00 IST)

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