Musharraf briefs commanders

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, JUNE 8. The top brass of the Pakistan military today, for the first time, formally deliberated on the invitation extended by the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, to the Chief Executive, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, to visit New Delhi for talks.

A statement at the end of the first day of the Core Commanders' conference presided over by Gen. Musharraf merely stated that ``discussion also took place on India's positive response to Pakistan's desire for a dialogue on the issue of Kashmir''.

The deliberations are considered significant as Gen. Musharraf was expected to apprise his colleagues about the agenda of his proposed summit with Mr. Vajpayee.

It is presumed that Gen. Musharraf took the Core Commanders into confidence about the stand he would adopt on Kashmir. And more importantly whether Pakistan would agree to sort out differences on other `outstanding issues' irrespective of the progress on the Kashmir front.

Gen. Musharraf remarked about the appreciation shown by all the countries he had recently visited on ``Pakistan's principled position on Kashmir''.

Speaking about his recent visits abroad and meetings with foreign dignitaries in Islamabad, Gen. Musharraf was quoted as saying ``all the countries were exceptionally positive towards developing greater ties with Pakistan and appreciated Pakistan's principled position on Kashmir''.

Barring the one-paragraph reference to the Indian invitation and the one-line quote attributed to Gen. Musharraf on Kashmir, the official statement does not throw any light on the nature of discussions.

On the security situation, the statement said: ``The participants reviewed the prevailing geo-strategic environment in the region, the situation along the international borders, Working Boundary and the Line of Control.''

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