Sudheendra Kulkarni attends Kasuri's book launch in Pakistan

Karachi: Observer Research Foundation (ORF) chairman Sudheendra Kulkarni, who was recently attacked by the Shiva Sena for organizing the book launch of Pakistan's former foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, advocated a dialogue process between the Asian neighbours and said the core issue of Kashmir must be addressed in just and honourable manner.

Kulkarni was speaking during the launch of book 'Neither a Hawk Nor a Dove' authored by Kasuri.

The Oxford University Press and The Karachi Council on Foreign Relations organised the book launch at a local hotel in Karachi.

'I have, and I continue to derive inspiration from Mani Shankar Aiyar because he has been a fighter for India-Pakistan friendship for more than three decades. He has popularised in India a phrase, which I fully endorse, and I would like more and more and more Indians to endorse. He says that the talks between India and Pakistan should be uninterrupted and uninterruptable. And it's not easy for someone to say this even when a lot of people say 'no talks with Pakistan',' Kulkarni told the audience at the ceremony.

He said both Indians and Pakistanis needed to revisit the complex history of partition with an open mind and learn from the costly mistakes committed in the past.

Kulkarni said Kashmir was a core issue and it must be addressed.

'Kasmir, friends, is indeed the core issue between India and Pakistan. We should not, we, especially in India, should not beat around the bush. Kashmir is the core issue and it must be addressed, and it must be addressed in a just and honourable manner, in a manner that satisfies the suffering people of Kashmir,' he said.

Some Shiv Sena members had sprayed black paint on the ORF chairman for organising the launch of the same book in Mumbai a few weeks ago.

Meanwhile, Kasuri said the Shiv Sena would perhaps think twice before any such actions in future.

'Don't run away with the idea that everybody in India is like Shiv Sena, that is not the case. And in fact, even Shiv Sena hopefully, after the coverage or the negative coverage they received because of what they tried to do to prevent my visit and what they did to Mr. Kulkarni which became international headline,' Kasuri said.

'I think, they will have to think twice and it seems that they have, and yesterday they expelled one member who tried to blacken somebody else's face,' he added.

Some prominent Indians and Pakistanis also attended the event that included former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf and former Indian diplomat-turned- politician Mani Shankar Aiyar.

Kasuri's book has been published worldwide by the OUP and by Penguin Publishers in India.