Hussain favours peace between India and Pakistan and has always been a vocal advocate of bridging gaps between the two neighbouring rivals. On the issue of Kashmir, Hussain stated that Indo-Pak dialogue should be allowed to "proceed on the basis of mutual adjustment and agreement...[and] It should be clear to all concerned that there can be no military solution to any of the contentious issues, let alone the issue of Kashmir." From 2004 Hussain warned against the growing influence of the Taliban in Karachi. Hussain stated that the "advocates of Jihad, a medieval concept to tame the infidel, are wantonly killing followers of the faith as they level places of worship." Where much of the politics of Hussain's party MQM revolves around fighting for justice for the muhajir community in Pakistan, he has always stated that his party "[stands] for equal rights and opportunities for all irrespective of colour, creed, caste, sect, gender, ethnicity or religion". Hussain's party started out as a movement for the empowerment of muhajirs in Pakistan but later modified its underlying ideologies to reflect a more broader political scope by changing its name from "Muhajir Qaumi Movement" to "Muttahida Qaumi Movement". In his keynote speech given at an international conference organised by the Hindustan Times Leadership Initiative, Hussain criticised the two-nation theory that forms the basis for the creation of Pakistan. He said that history has proven the two-nation theory irrelevant when modern-day Muslims are killing each other "on the basic of tribal and linguistic affinity". Hussain blamed the independence to have divided Muslims of South Asia, making them weaker as a result. Altaf Hussain has asked Muhajirs in Pakistan to contact their relatives in India to inform them about what he called a "devastating situation" in Pakistan. On 17 September 2000, Hussain stated that the partition of India was the "biggest blunder in history of mankind", and that by rejecting the "grouping formulae and greater autonomy for Muslim-majority Indian provinces", Jawaharlal Nehru and Abul Kalam Azad forced Muhammad Ali Jinnah to demand a separate Pakistan, even when the founder of Pakistan was ready to accept a united India. Hussain criticized the partition of India, stating that the partition of India "was the division of blood, culture, brotherhood, relationships". The politician stated that the idea of Pakistan was "dead at its inception, when the majority of Muslims chose to stay back after partition."