Ready to discuss all issues: Musharraf

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, NOV. 24. The Pakistan President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, said today while he was ready for talks with India on all issues, the focus should be on Kashmir.

In a brief press appearance with the visiting European Union delegation, Gen. Musharraf said during his talks with the E.U. leaders, he had told them ``Pakistan is ready to discuss every issue with India.''

Since the Agra summit, India had given an impression that Pakistan was not ready to discuss any issue other than Kashmir. ``Kashmir undoubtedly remains the main dispute adversely affecting Pakistan-India relationship but we are and remain prepared to discuss each and any issue, but the focus should be on Kashmir.''

On New Delhi's charge that Islamabad was abetting cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, Gen. Musharraf said ``all the three words in the claim are wrong, ab initio... ``It is an indigenous freedom struggle... so no question of crossing over. Secondly, it is the Line of Control and not a border as claimed. Thirdly, there is no terrorism in it as a popular striving and a struggle for freedom is on. So all these three words are wrong. And no claim can substantiate anything beyond the facts on the ground.''

India kept accusing Pakistan of cross-border terrorism while committing `state terrorism and human rights violations' in Kashmir, Gen. Musharraf said. He reiterated his stand - which he had taken at the U.N. General Assembly earlier this month - that the Kashmir issue should be resolved as per the Security Council resolutions.

The Belgian Prime Minister and E.U. president, Mr. Guy Verhosftadt, said India and Pakistan should solve the problem politically. ``The September 11 attacks have led to a new global environment that offers new chances and challenges. We need to push issues for peaceful resolution,'' he said, adding that the ``time is ripe and the environment is there.'' This had also been the E.U. position during his just-concluded visit to India.

In another development, the Pakistan Information Secretary, Mr. Anwar Mahmood, has welcomed the statement of the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, in the afternoon in Delhi, about his willingness to meet Gen. Musharraf in Kathmandu on the sidelines of the SAARC summit in January.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Front Page
Previous : Chance of meeting Musharraf in Kathmandu: PM
Next     : U.S. to help India in border management