Musharraf positive about resolving Kashmir issue

Striking a highly positive note about the future of Indo-Pak relations, Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf has expressed confidence that the issue of Jammu and Kashmir would be resolved given the determination of the leaders and the people of the two countries to achieve peace.

Addressing a press conference here yesterday, he said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and he had "positive meetings" in Havana on the sidelines of the Non-aligned summit and that they were determined to narrow down divergences and strengthen convergences.

But he also warned that Singh and he are facing difficulties in their own countries from extremists who do not want resolution of the Kashmir issue.

On Kashmir, he said leadership of both countries desired peace and there were many proposals.

India does not want redrawing of the borders, Pakistan does not recognize the "Line of Control" and was concerned that it would be made permanent borders and then there were proposals that steps be taken to make it irrelevant, he said.

Emphasizing that proposals needed to be crystallized, he said,"With the right political will, solution could be found despite extremists on both sides."

Asked if an evil ideology was responsible for the July 11 carnage by terrorists in Mumbai or if that had been a consequence of the unresolved dispute over Jammu and Kashmir, he said he did not know who was responsible for the bombings, which he "condemned in the strongest terms." He had proposed a joint investigation into the matter, and offered to coordinate efforts to apprehend those responsible, but his proposals had been categorically rejected and "I do not know why." "So I do not know who was responsible," he told reporters during his half an hour press meet.

Asked about the unease among the intelligence agencies over creation of mechanism under which Indian security institutions would share intelligence with their Pakistani counterparts, he said those feelings were mutual.

"There was also a certain apprehension about India sharing intelligence on Baluchistan, for instance. However, institutional mechanisms would be created to address issues of mutual concern," he added.

Article Source: http://www.share.onlypunjab.com

Please Rate this Article

5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5 

Not yet Rated