Kashmir issue: This is what Atal Bihari Vajpayee told Imran Khan

Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday recalled his discussion with former Indian prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee about the Kashmir issue in an interview with a group of television journalists. “Atal Bihari Vajpayee told me that Kashmir would have been resolved if the BJP had not lost the 2004 Lok Sabha elections. Former external affairs minister Natwar Singh was also present in that meeting,” Imran Khan said.

"It shows that there is a solution of Kashmir and both countries were close to resolve it," the Pakistani Prime Minister said.

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It can be resolved through dialogue and war is no option to the Kashmir issue, Imran Khan said. “Unless there was a dialogue, various options on the resolution of Kashmir cannot be discussed,” he said.

Refusing to share any details Imran Khan said that there were two or three solutions, which have been in discussions for the Kashmir issue. “It is too early to talk about them,” he said.

“India and Pakistan are two nuclear-armed countries and would not fight because there are always unintended consequences,” he said.

India is not holding talks with Pakistan due to upcoming general elections. He, however, asserted that Pakistan was serious to develop peaceful ties with all its neighbours.

“The Pakistan Army and the government are on the same page and all my decisions are "backed" by the military,” Imran Khan said.

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Earlier, the prime minister had told that Pakistan’s overtures for peace should not be misconstrued as desperation.

At the Kartarpur groundbreaking ceremony, Imran Khan had said that “There’s a consensus in Pakistan that peace is the way forward. The only issue between us is Kashmir, all it needs is just two capable leadership to resolve this issue. Just imagine the potential we have if our relationships get strong."