A question of Kashmiri rights, says Musharraf

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, JUNE 28. The Pakistan military ruler and President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, today said the Kashmir issue did not just involve territory but was a serious question of the Kashmiris' right to self-determination and other fundamental human rights.

In his opening remarks at a meeting of the representatives of political and religious groups from the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), as part of his efforts to ascertain views of a cross- section of society on his India visit, Gen. Musharraf said no solution was possible without taking into consideration the aspirations of the people of Kashmir.

At the same, he concurred with the views of the former President and the Prime Minister of PoK, Sardar Qayyum, that no point would be served in looking for motives into the Indian invitation. The Chief Executive said he had no reason to doubt the sincerity of the Prime Minister, Mr. A. B. Vajpayee, in his quest for resolving the vexed problem.

Right time

After the meeting, Mr. Qayyum told The Hindu that the ``summit offered a golden opportunity for both India and Pakistan to begin the process for resolution of their long standing differences. In my opinion, with a BJP government in New Delhi and a military regime in Islamabad, this is the time. If we miss this bus, it would be a political suicide.''

Mr. Qayyum, who heads the Muslim Conference in PoK, is in the forefront of those advocating the need for giving peace a chance ever since India announced the Ramzan peace initiative in November last year. In fact, he had appealed to the Pakistan Government and the militant outfits to respond favourably to the Indian moves.

During the course of a conversation here, he admitted that there were voices at the conference questioning India's motives in inviting Gen. Musharraf for talks. ``But my point is you have to begin somewhere. How long can we both go on like this? My considered view is that it is this realisation which has prompted India to move forward''.

Gen. Musharraf said the valiant people of Kashmir had ``rendered supreme sacrifices for their right to self- determination and have faced the atrocities of the occupation forces with courage and perseverance''.

The bedrock of his talks with the Indian leadership would be the Kashmiris' aspirations, he said. Pakistan desired peace in the region but it was not possible until the Kashmir dispute was settled in accordance with the wishes of the State's people.

Leaders assured

The General took the opportunity to assure the Kashmir leaders that their struggle would be successful as it was based on the principles of justice and international law..

Representatives of political parties of PoK, the All- Party Hurriyat Conference's PoK chapter, and Kashmiris from the U.S., U.K. and Canada were present.

An official statement said they lauded the principled stand of the Government on the issue of Kashmir and assured unanimous support to Gen. Musharraf's efforts to resolve the Kashmir issue.

The Minister for Kashmir Affairs, Mr. Abbas Sarfraz Khan, the Foreign Secretary, Mr. Enamul Haque, and the Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Ghulam Ahmad, were also present.

Gen. Musharraf is expected to meet the Ulema and Mushaikh (Muslim scholars) on Friday.

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