Lahore: The Kargil conflict of 1999 exposed the differences between the military and political leadership of Pakistan and any such future adventure would cause major impediment in normalising Indo-Pak ties, Pakistan's leader of Opposition Fazlur Rehman has said.

"We want the dialogue between the two countries to continue... the people on both sides are yearning for peace...there should be no new Kargil as this would lead to a major impediment," Rehman, the chief of Muttahida Mahali-e-Amal, said while addressing the concluding session of fourth conference of South Asia Free Media Association (SAFMA) in Lahore last night (Nov 21, 2004).

Spotlight: Kashmir is NOT negotiable

Singing a conciliatory tune, a day after President Pervez Musharraf expressed his disappointment over India's attitude towards conflict resolutions; Rehman said, "All issues can be resolved by dialogue and not through violence."

The Muslim cleric accused leaders on both sides as being "insincere" towards resolving core issues, including Kashmir, and said it further complicated the peace process.

Recalling the Kargil conflict, Rehman said the event led Pakistan to give an explanation before the international community.

"There were talks between the two Prime Ministers (Navaz Sherif and Atal Bihari Vajpayee) and two days later Kargil happened," he said and added "whatever explanation Pakistan may give for Kargil war, the fact is that it made Islamabad's intentions questionable and pushed the country to defensive."

Rehman stressed that dialogue between India and Pakistan should be held at a political level and not left to the mercy of bureaucrats.

"Bureaucrats cannot move the files beyond the drawn lines whereas politicians have the courage to explore new ways and path and open many other doors if one is closed," he said. The leader of Opposition also stressed for inclusion of Kashmiri leadership in the talks.

"Kashmiri leadership should be involved in the talks. If not, they should atleast be kept abreast of the progress made by the two countries in resolving the disputes," he said.

Comparing the approach of NDA (National Democratic Alliance) and UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Governments towards resolution of Kashmir issue, Rehman said that during BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)'s regime, expectations were very high.

"However, the present Government is maintaining low profile while discussing the issue seriously," he said.

Rehman, who had led a delegation of Muslim clerics last year to India, hoped that all stumbling blocks in the course of the peace process would be removed very soon.

In a veiled criticism of the US, the cleric said the situation emerging after 9/11 attacks on America and the subsequent attacks on Afghanistan and Iraq had only increased the threat potential and caused serious concerns on human rights across the globe.