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Support to Kashmir will continue: Gilani

Islamabad, Feb 4: Pakistan Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani Thursday reiterated that his government will “continue extending political, moral and diplomatic support” to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“We will continue extending our political, moral and diplomatic support to the people of Kashmir and our principled stance will not be changed on the issue,” Gilani said in his talks with leaders of Pakistan-administered Kashmir (PaK).
PaK president Raja Zulqarnain Khan and Prime Minister Raja Mohammed Farooq Khan called on Gilani at his residence here on the eve of “Kashmir solidarity day” to be observed in Pakistan Friday.
“Pakistan wants early resolution according to the aspirations of the Kashmiri people, as it is imperative for lasting peace in the region,” Gilani said, according to Online news agency.
Meanwhile, putting things straight, Pakistan Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has said the Pakistan Army would remain an “India centric” institution unless both countries resolve the long pending Kashmir issue and water disputes between them.
“We plan on adversaries’ capabilities, not intentions,” Kayani said during a presentation to the Pakistani media.
Kayani pointed out towards the threat posed by India’s ‘Cold Start’ doctrine.
According to him the traditional theory of war on its head, ‘Cold Start’ would permit the Indian Army to attack before mobilising, increasing the possibility of a ‘sudden spiral escalation.’
Kayani also talked about maintaining a balance in military spending between the two South Asian nuclear powered countries.
“Despite the fact that India’s defence budget is seven times that of Pakistan’s there has to be a balance between development and military spending,” The Dawn quoted Kayani, as saying.
IANS