IN an interview with The Tribune’s Smita Sharma, Pakistan former Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri recalls Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s impact on ties. Excerpts:Your view on Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s contribution to India-Pakistan ties?I knew Vajpayee not just as Foreign Minister, but also as Member of Parliament. When he visited Lahore on his bus yatra, I was present at the government house where he made a very moving speech. He came across as a man of peace. He made an interesting remark which left a positive impact on those of us present. When I was Foreign Minister, SAARC, as usual, was hostage to India-Pak relations. The summit was held in January 2004 and we were not sure if any substantive talks between the two countries would take place. We thought there would only be a courtesy call. It was decided that Vajpayee and Musharraf should meet and modalities were settled one day earlier by two Foreign Ministers Yashwant Sinha and me. Next day, the meeting took place at the President’s House. We were very happy that President Musharraf and PM Vajpayee arrived at a solution in the January 6 joint declaration. That set into motion possibly the most successful peace process since 1947 although it did not substantially materialise during Vajpayee’s time. What do you see as the India-Pak future given non-state actors to wheels within wheels remain?War is not possible. We have been near nine war situations. The two countries realise that whether it is nuclear, conventional or sub-conventional level, they have reached almost parity. Not an inch of territory can pass from one to another… everything has been tried. When you talk about non-state actors, Pakistan complains about Indian activities in Balochistan that was mentioned in Sharmal Sheikh declaration. PM Manmohan Singh faced flak for it in India. This was akin to what Nawaz Sharif faced because of lack of Kashmir in the Ufa declaration. You cannot duck anymore… we have to face facts about what India alleges and you cannot just live with the situation in Kashmir.Can PMs Imran Khan and Narendra Modi make a difference? Is the Pakistan army on board?The beginnings have not been bad. Imran Khan has a good reputation as a popular figure in India also. The fact that PM Modi rang him was well received in Pakistan. The cricket bat sent through the High Commissioner sends a message. It will be unfortunate if we have to wait till 2019 Indian elections to find solutions. Solution on Kashmir framework would be impossible without Pakistan army and ISI supporting it. Pakistan military is not averse to peace but wants a just, negotiated settlement on honourable terms.Will SAARC summit be revived?I believe strongly in regional cooperation. Now we are ready to meet each other in SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) but not in SAARC which is our home ground. We don’t want to kill SAARC which has a lot of hidden advantages.

War is not possible. We have been near nine war situations. The two countries realise that whether it is nuclear, conventional or sub-conventional level, they have reached almost parity. Not an inch of territory can pass from one to another.Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, Pakistan Former foreign minister