He was addressing members of the Karachi Council on Foreign Relations (KCFR) at a breakfast dialogue which was hosted in his honour by the council here at a hotel here. Ikram Sehgal, Chairman KCFR and Sadeed A. Malik, Secretary General also spoke on this occasion.
Cameron Munter, who is also a former President of the East West Institute, said that Pakistan should solve its disputes with India. India has also domestic issues. Pakistan should focus its domestic issues like tax growth, education etc. Kashmir issue is very important but this should not prevent Pakistan from focusing on its domestic agenda. The world countries have condemned India for atrocities in Kashmir but for this issue, relations between the two neighboring countries should not be halted at all, he stressed.
Pakistan should also understand that the resolution of the Kashmir issue may take long to settle this issue and both countries have to move forward despite this tough time. "We know that owing to this situation, it is very difficult for Pakistanis to love India but they should try to. I hope this situation will not escalate further to reach a point to even consider atomic misadventure. Nuclear war cannot be handled," former US ambassador said.
Munter further said that the Kashmir issue and the 'Mexico issue' are somehow identical. According to him, "Mexico remained an issue for the USA and we had to listen to them". President USA Donald Trump and Prime Minister Pakistan Imran Khan now have good chemistry which is an encouraging sign as leaders. Imran Khan has earned a good image in the US by his speech. It is just a beginning and he hoped this would put relations between the two friendly nations on better stage again, he added.
Responding to a question from the audience, Munter said that, "yes it is a fact that many countries have their economic interests in India; likewise Pakistan has with China. But Pakistan will have to play it very sensibly and should not stick to any side. Pakistan should honestly think about what China is going to offer it and how this will impact its culture.
There are good cultural relations between the USA and Pakistan. Around one million Muslims are in trouble in China and they are reeducating them but Prime Minister Imran Khan will not be interested to talk on it because China is a friend of Pakistan. The USA is also a friend of Pakistan. Sometimes, leaders have to make unpopular decisions," he repeated.
"I want to say to my Pakistani friends that it is another good opportunity to make relations with USA better as it wants prosperity and stability of democracy in Pakistan," he said. "Donald Trump is not thinking for the benefit of Pakistan but for his own American people however human rights, women rights and environment issues are also important, the former ambassador added.
Ikram Sehgal, Chairman KCFR terming Cameron Munter as a good friend of Pakistan said that people of such stature can take our perceptions to the world. He also lauded the speech of the prime minister and said that it honoured all Pakistanis internationally. Munter has also appreciated his speech, which is a good sign, he added. Later, Liaquat Merchant, the grand nephew of the Quaid, presented to Munter and Sehgal 'The Jinnah Anthology' by him.