Munir
28th April 2005, 18:54
Musharraf wants Kashmir solution while in office
* Indian Army needs to move out of Kashmir for Kashmiris
Daily Times Monitor
LAHORE: President Pervez Musharraf said on Wednesday that the Indian and Pakistani leadership had realised the importance of seizing the opportunity for lasting peace in South Asia by resolving Kashmir.
He also expressed the wish for both leaderships to avail the chance for peace during their terms in office. Talking to the PTV programme ‘Aap Kay Roo Baroo’, President Musharraf said, “We (Indian and Pakistani leaders) are at a juncture where we can contribute to peace, harmony and amity between both countries. So, we both have realised that we should seize the moment – we must seize the moment, otherwise, we will be letting down the two nations and the people of Kashmir.”
He said that during his talks with the Indian prime minister, they did not set any particular timeframe to resolve Kashmir. However, he stressed the opportunity for peace should be availed within the tenures of both leaders. “If we have to seize the moment, it should be within our careers,” he said.
The president underscored the crucial significance of addressing the underlying cause of tension between the two countries, saying harmony between the leadership at a particular point in history did not guarantee permanent peace.
“Past accords including the Tashkent Declaration, Simla Accord and Lahore Declaration could not deliver, as they did not address the core issue,” he said, adding that the Indian prime minister had shown sincerity in moving towards a genuine settlement of the dispute. “There is a lot of common ground in our ideas,” he said, but cautioned that moving forward towards its final settlement was not easy. “There are a lot of grey areas (en route),” he added.
Musharraf said that the bottom line of Islamabad’s policy on Kashmir was that the dispute should be resolved in accordance with the wishes of Kashmiris and that the Line of Control could not be accepted as a permanent border.
President Musharraf referred to the joint statement, calling it a “good document” that, for the first time, had covered all issues with a clear emphasis on “purposeful and meaningful” talks on Kashmir for its final settlement.
The president said it was Pakistan’s proposal to open up new points on the LoC, stating that these would facilitate Kashmiris and provide them convenience and comfort in travelling.
About human rights violation in held Kashmir, the president said he took the matter up with the Indian prime minister and emphasised the need to end the ongoing oppression there. He said the military had to move out to give real comfort to Kashmiris.
He said both India and Pakistan could not be coerced into accepting any given solution of Kashmir. “Pakistan has full confidence in its potential and can’t be coerced,” he said. He ruled out the possibility of any unilateral flexibility on the dispute, saying it had to be a two-way process. He said that it had been made clear to the Indians that Pakistan would never accept the LoC as a permanent border.
Musharraf said everything else would become irrelevant if Kashmir was not addressed. “When I show optimism, it is in my intent. We need to proceed further with harmony and sincerity. In my judgment there is a genuine intent towards an acceptable settlement of the Kashmir dispute,” he added. Musharraf called his meeting with APHC leaders in Delhi useful and said the APHC leaders were unified in their opposition to the Indian occupation.
www.dailytimes.com.pk
* Indian Army needs to move out of Kashmir for Kashmiris
Daily Times Monitor
LAHORE: President Pervez Musharraf said on Wednesday that the Indian and Pakistani leadership had realised the importance of seizing the opportunity for lasting peace in South Asia by resolving Kashmir.
He also expressed the wish for both leaderships to avail the chance for peace during their terms in office. Talking to the PTV programme ‘Aap Kay Roo Baroo’, President Musharraf said, “We (Indian and Pakistani leaders) are at a juncture where we can contribute to peace, harmony and amity between both countries. So, we both have realised that we should seize the moment – we must seize the moment, otherwise, we will be letting down the two nations and the people of Kashmir.”
He said that during his talks with the Indian prime minister, they did not set any particular timeframe to resolve Kashmir. However, he stressed the opportunity for peace should be availed within the tenures of both leaders. “If we have to seize the moment, it should be within our careers,” he said.
The president underscored the crucial significance of addressing the underlying cause of tension between the two countries, saying harmony between the leadership at a particular point in history did not guarantee permanent peace.
“Past accords including the Tashkent Declaration, Simla Accord and Lahore Declaration could not deliver, as they did not address the core issue,” he said, adding that the Indian prime minister had shown sincerity in moving towards a genuine settlement of the dispute. “There is a lot of common ground in our ideas,” he said, but cautioned that moving forward towards its final settlement was not easy. “There are a lot of grey areas (en route),” he added.
Musharraf said that the bottom line of Islamabad’s policy on Kashmir was that the dispute should be resolved in accordance with the wishes of Kashmiris and that the Line of Control could not be accepted as a permanent border.
President Musharraf referred to the joint statement, calling it a “good document” that, for the first time, had covered all issues with a clear emphasis on “purposeful and meaningful” talks on Kashmir for its final settlement.
The president said it was Pakistan’s proposal to open up new points on the LoC, stating that these would facilitate Kashmiris and provide them convenience and comfort in travelling.
About human rights violation in held Kashmir, the president said he took the matter up with the Indian prime minister and emphasised the need to end the ongoing oppression there. He said the military had to move out to give real comfort to Kashmiris.
He said both India and Pakistan could not be coerced into accepting any given solution of Kashmir. “Pakistan has full confidence in its potential and can’t be coerced,” he said. He ruled out the possibility of any unilateral flexibility on the dispute, saying it had to be a two-way process. He said that it had been made clear to the Indians that Pakistan would never accept the LoC as a permanent border.
Musharraf said everything else would become irrelevant if Kashmir was not addressed. “When I show optimism, it is in my intent. We need to proceed further with harmony and sincerity. In my judgment there is a genuine intent towards an acceptable settlement of the Kashmir dispute,” he added. Musharraf called his meeting with APHC leaders in Delhi useful and said the APHC leaders were unified in their opposition to the Indian occupation.
www.dailytimes.com.pk