Elected Pak govt fails to boost ties with India

In a first, a democratically-elected government has completed a full five-year term in Pakistan. Jayanth Jacob reorts.

In a first, a democratically-elected government has completed a full five-year term in Pakistan.

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But democracy doesn’t seem to be helping improve Indo-Pak ties. Despite the expectations, there was no high-level visit from Pakistan—though president Asif Ali Zardari and prime ministers Yusuf Raza Gilani and Raja Pervez Ashraf visited India, all three were not strictly official visits.

The flare up across the Line of Control in January this year with Pakistani troopers beheading an Indian soldier, the ties have come under fresh strain and the dialogue process remains derailed.

Pakistan parliament’s passing of a resolution condemning the hanging of Afzal Guru and demanding the return of his body to his family have only made matters worse.

Hurriyat thanks Pak for Guru resolution
Srinagar: Moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference on Saturday thanked the Pakistan parliament for passing a resolution on executed Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.

“We thank Pak parliament for passing a unanimous resolution against the hanging of Guru and on return of his mortal remains to people of Kashmir,” said Mirwaiz Umar Farooq led Hurriyat in Srinagar. Meanwhile, curfew continued for second day in Srinagar city.