Kashmir will be core issue, Musharraf tells clerics

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, JUNE 29. The Pakistani President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, has said that he would be joining the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, at the summit talks in Agra with an open mind and a ``clear commitment to discuss the initiation of a process'' that would lead to the resolution of the Kashmir dispute.

Interacting with a group of clerics as part of his exercise to ascertain views from a cross-section of the society in the run-up to the summit here today, Gen. Musharraf reiterated that Kashmir would form the core issue of his discussions.

This was the last of the series of consultations Gen. Musharraf has had in the last four days.

In all his interactions Gen. Musharraf has sought to reassure that Kashmir would be the `core issue' of his agenda and he would not `compromise' with the interests of Pakistan at the summit.

The interaction with the group of clerics was considered significant as most of them have passionate views on the subject of Kashmir. On June 5, while addressing a gathering of Ulemma, on the occasion of the birthday of Prophet Mohammad, Gen. Musharraf had expressed serious concern over the manner in which certain groups were trying to misuse religion.

He had made a specific reference to the tall claims being made by some groups and their anti-India rhetoric like ``hoisting the flag on the Red Fort'' and its adverse impact on the image of Pakistan in the eyes of the international community.

Today he chose to confine his remarks to sectarian violence. Gen. Musharraf told the gathering of scholars that progress could not be made on other issues with India without removing the major impediment (Kashmir).

He said Pakistan favoured peace in the region. The region could prosper only in an atmosphere free of tension. ``This however, could only be achieved if there was a similar commitment and reciprocity from the other side. I hope that such reciprocity would be forthcoming from my hosts in New Delhi.''

Gen. Musharraf utilised the opportunity to refer to the `menace of sectarianism' and appealed to the scholars to help the Government contain and eliminate sectarian violence. He told the clerics that Pakistan was created for all Muslims and the founder father as well as hundreds of thousands of people who gave their lives had visualised for Pakistan the role of a model Islamic state.

The country had valuable resources, both human and material. Given a sense of direction, Pakistanis were capable of achieving excellence in everything they pursued.

An official statement said the Ulema condemned the acts of sectarian violence and assured Gen. Musharraf of their fullest cooperation in achieving sectarian harmony. They also called for registration of mosques to eliminate the possibility of forcible occupation by one group or the other.

Size of delegation

PTI reports:

Meanwhile, after several rounds of official-level consultations over the size of the delegation that would accompany Gen. Pervez Musahrraf to New Delhi, India and Pakistan have reportedly agreed that its composition would be the same as that of the one that accompanied the Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee, to Lahore in 1999.

Officials, however, said today that the exact composition of the delegation would be finalised by a two-member Pakistani team visiting New Delhi on July 2.

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