minority in India is indeed a matter of concern for the entire international community, because it is essentially a question of projection of human and fundamental rights. We earnestly hope that the Government of India would lake strong steps to afford adequate protection to the Muslims in India, as indeed to all minorities in that country.
It is our sincere desire to promote good neighborly relations with India. It is, however, regrettable that our main disputes with her, which are the root cause of bad blood between our two countries, remain unsettled.
In the recently concluded talks on Farakka, India has at least conceded our right to the Ganges waters, although the question of quantum has still been left undecided. That is the crux of the problem.
It is unfortunate that India has not shown any inclination for the settlement of the Kashmir dispute. International disputes of this nature must be resolved on the basis of equity and justice and respect for international agreements. A mere repetition by one party that the dispute does not exist or has resolved itself does not make it vanish into thin air. It continues to exist and cries out for a proper solution acceptable to the parties to the dispute.
In the Middle East, our Arab brethren are continuing their struggle to assert their inalienable rights. We fully support their resolve to resist aggression.
Our co-operation with the brotherly countries of Iran and Turkey continues to attain new dimensions. In May this year, I met His Imperial Majesty the Shahanshah of Iran and His Excellency the President of Turkey in Izmir. We were all glad to find ourselves in unison on many issues facing the world. Our three countries are dedicated to work for peace in our region as well as in the world. We recognize the basic need for relying on ourselves and are exerting together to bring about a rapid improvement in the standard of living of our peoples. This common endeavor has further strengthened our solidarity.
Finally a word of caution. The people of this country are, by and large, fully capable of identifying dangers and pit-falls that exist in empty slogans and tall promises. I would, therefore, expect those who aspire to administer this country in the future to explain the realities of the national's' economic, social and political ills as well as the limitations that a developing country tends to suffer from. There is no magic wand which can resolve difficult problems overnight. Future leaders and administrators must understand that it is only careful planning and hard work which result in benefits for the people. Developing countries must be prepared to undergo hardships and sacrifices in order to achieve an honorable and respectable place in the comity of nations. The road to prosperity is a long and arduous one. There are no short cuts. Political leaders must have the courage to explain hard realities to the people and to avoid making statements which might mislead them. They are not prepared to accept hollow claims. They have a right to demand, and they will demand honesty in word as well as in deed from their leaders.
My dear countrymen, there are just over two months left for general elections. This is the first time that the entire country will go to polls on the basis of adult franchise and elect their representatives who, as their first task, will make the Constitution for Pakistan and then later form the Centre Legislative Assembly.
