Pakistan says it is ready for 'purposeful dialogue'

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, AUG. 9. Pakistan today said it was ready to a join a ``purposeful dialogue'' with India for a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir dispute even as the Chief Executive, General Pervez Musharraf, expressed satisfaction over the ``gains made by the liberation struggle, securing worldwide recognition as a legitimate indigenous movement'.

The promise to engage India for a solution to the Kashmir tangle came at the end of a Cabinet meeting chaired by Gen. Musharraf. The Cabinet also took the opportunity to restate the ``nation's strong commitment to the cause of liberation of Kashmir''.

An official statement said the Foreign Minister, Mr. Abdul Sattar, briefed his colleagues on the ``international dimensions of the latest situation arising from India's failure to use this valuable opportunity to pursue the possibility of a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir dispute''.

In his observations at the meeting, Gen. Musharraf said New Delhi's own admission that the ``freedom fighters'' were from its side of Kashmir had ``exposed the falsehood of the Indian propaganda which tried to project the Kashmir struggle as Pakistan-sponsored terrorism''.

The Cabinet complimented the Hurriyat leadership for demonstrating ``sagacity and reasonableness'' by supporting a realistic dialogue process involving the freedom movement, Pakistan and India. ``In contrast, the Indian Government led by an extremist party has emerged in its true colours, ignoring the plea of the Kashmiri people for an opportunity to exercise their inherent right to self-determination. This right was pledged to them by India itself and sanctified in resolutions adopted at the United Nations Security Council,'' it said.

In another development, the Hizbul Mujahideen claimed responsibility for killing 12 soldiers in an attack on an Indian army base in Kashmir two and half hours after the expiry of its ceasefire on Tuesday. A spokesman for the group claimed that Hizbul cadres attacked the Army divisional headquarters at Baramulla killing 12 soldiers and injuring many others. Two buildings were also damaged, he said.

The attack was a signal that the Hizbul activists were back in action, he said and denied that there were differences within the organisation on ending the ceasefire.

``Why should we contact our field commanders? Where is the need? We were in touch with them till yesterday as we have suspended our activities and exploring possibilities of peace. Now they have gone underground and do not have access to telephone,'' he said.

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