27 June 2001

MUSHARRAF TO ADVANCE KASHMIRIS' RIGHT TO CHOOSE OWN DESTINY

From Our Delhi Bureau

NEW DELHI: In a veiled hint of advancing the Kashmiris' case for self-determination at the Indo-Pak summit slated next month, Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf has affirmed that "the will and the determination to pursue peace and progress and to honour the rights of the people to choose their own destiny can make the difference between harmony and discord, between progress and poverty."

He made these remarks in Islamabad on Tuesday while talking to senior Pakistani editors as part of the exercise he has started to consult representatives of various sections of the society before he flies to Delhi on July 14 for the summit.

Though Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Musharraf are meeting without any fixed agenda of issues, expectations are running riot on what all may come out of the summit being held after two years of breakdown of official contacts between the two countries.

EXPECTATIONS: Defusing tensions on the Line of Control (LoC), demobilization of the Pakistani and Indian troops stationed on either side of the Line, controlling infiltration, reduction of violence, facilitating greater interaction between the Kashmiri leaders on both sides, and a fully-functioning communication setup to avoid misunderstanding in a conflict situation, are cited as initial steps that the two leaders may take for the eventual solution to the Kashmir problem.

Musharraf, however, cautioned the Pakistani editors against placing too much hope in the upcoming Indo-Pak Summit alone as the complexities of the problem and the mistrust of half a century could not be removed overnight.

Diplomatic sources in Islamabad told Pakistani daily "Dawn": "To the extent that there is no set final proposal that either side is bringing to the table on Kashmir, the summit has an unspecific agenda, but both sides have communicated in some detail on how to make a positive start on Kashmir. We are expecting many confidence-building measures on Kashmir to be agreed upon."

DEFUSED LoC: On the likely understandings to be reached between the two leaders, the sources said that some meeting ground is already visible through initial interaction. "There is appreciation on both sides that the live-wire status of the Line of Control has to be turned into something less dangerous and more secure. There is likely to be some movement towards de-militarising the Line," a source told the Pakistani daily.

Depending on the environment of the summit, there can also be agreement that the Kashmiri leaders have to be allowed to freely interact with each other so that they provide a buffer between the hard-end positions of both India and Pakistan, the source added.

The source also said that some work has already been done on deepening communication at the military operations and planning level so that every troop movement does not ring alarm bells.

The source said that there is a lot of goodwill and momentum at the official level in both countries for the normalisation of ties. "This in a way is good because the level of expectations is quite low so any forward movement will then look substantive," the source said.

"Nobody is expecting that Kashmir will be solved in the summit. But if the two agree to institutionalise their dialogue process, make Line of Control a border of peace than a line of fire, agree to curtail infiltration and violence in Kashmir, have a set of concrete confidence-building measures installed, and move decisively towards improved trade and economic relations, the summit will be a success. And that is the structure of the meeting," the source added.

In his meeting with the editors, Musharraf said he would take an "initiative" himself for resolving the Kashmir issue and would not be "reactive" since he is ready to discuss all major issues with India.
The CE said he sensed a realization in the Indian leadership to resolve the Kashmir issue.

US PRESSURE ON INDIA: The president agreed with an editor that Indians were facing the US pressure to negotiate and resolve issues with Pakistan. He also agreed that Vajpayee could not have invited him for talks, had there been no pressure by the international community.

The CE, sources said, pointed out that the struggle by the Jihadi groups had also contributed to the Indian realisation that New Delhi should settle issues with Islamabad. He reiterated that he would leave for summit next month with "an open mind and an open agenda" focusing on Kashmir but willing to discuss all other issues.

The President said he was willing to discuss the relationship with India in its entirety, and expected positive response from the other side. He reiterated that Pakistan would join India at the summit in New Delhi next month with an open mind and an open agenda focusing on Kashmir but willing to discuss all other issues as well.

"However, the will and the determination to pursue peace and progress and to honour the rights of the people to choose their own destiny can make the difference between harmony and discord, between progress and poverty," Musharraf was quoted telling the editors.

OPTIMISM: The president said he was keenly aware of the serious impediments in the way of normalisation of relations between Pakistan and India. But as one who believed in peace and harmony and in sharing of the fruits of development also by the people of the South Asian Sub-continent, he was "optimistic that the Indian leadership would respond positively to the setting in motion of a process that would facilitate resolution of the core issue of Kashmir".

Asked what made him optimistic even if cautiously so, General Musharraf said he sensed a realisation on the other side also for a resolution of the issue of Kashmir which was not the case on previous occasions when the two countries had met and discussed bilateral relations. The president said he was willing to discuss the relationship in its entirety and expected reciprocity from the other side.

The president assured the editors that he was mindful of their views and comments on Pakistan-India relationship as well as on the core issue of Kashmir. He said he was equally aware of the sentiments of the Pakistani nation and even more importantly of the Kashmiris struggling for freedom.

He said there should be no doubt in any ones mind that on the all important issue of Kashmir, the Pakistani nation stood completely united and their sentiments on Kashmir cut across all divides, political or otherwise.

President All Pakistan Newspaper Society Hamid Haroon and President Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors Mujeebur Rehman Shami extended support of national media to President General Pervez Musharraf for his visit to India. END