Imran blames India, Pak leaders for failing to resolve Kashmir

Kolkata, Jan 30 (PTI) Cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan today held the present leadership of both India and Pakistan responsible for not being able to resolve the Kashmir issue. ''The Kashmir issue can't be solved unilaterally and I am hopeful that the present generation will change things,'' Imran Khan, founder-president of Tehreek-e-Insaf political party in Pakistan, said at the Kolkata Literary Meet of the Kolkata Book Fair, here. Khan suggested that leaders of both India and Pakistan to sit across the negotiation table to resolve the Kashmir issue. ''We are carrying a huge baggage of history. There is no leader who can take the risk for the future, neither in Pakistan nor in India.'' ''The issue (Kashmir) needs to be resolved in a civilised way. The dividend of peace is enormous. Although it has not happened yet, I am hopeful that the issue will be resolved eventually,'' he said. Imran said, ''It will happen because the new generation does not have any baggage of history. This is the time to lead and mould public opinion. The leaders should not follow public sentiments, but they should lead.'' Evading a query on what his party would like to do on improving the Indo-Pak relationship, Khan said that people of both countries should understand that friendship would benefit both of them. ''People of both Pakistan and India want friendship. But it is the leadership which creates problems. But I am hopeful the new generation in both the countries will change things,'' he said. PTI NIK PB MD