Musharraf convenes NSC meeting

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD JULY 8. Pakistan's military ruler and President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, has convened a meeting of the newly- reconstituted National Security Council (NSC) on July 11 to discuss his scheduled summit meeting with the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, in Agra on July 15 and 16.

The NSC, the most powerful decision-making body under the dispensation of Gen. Musharraf, is expected to deliberate on Pakistan's strategy at the meeting in the light of its stand on making Kashmir the core issue.

There are indications that Gen. Musharraf would secure the consent of the Council, heavily dominated by the military, to enable him to negotiate a solution to the Kashmir issue.

Gen. Musharraf had `consultations' with a cross- section of the people in Pakistan the last two weeks. These include editors of the leading Pakistani dailies and magazines, political and religious leaders, representatives of women's groups, Kashmiri parties, Pak-occupied Kashmir and Muslim scholars.

Only last week through an amendment to the Provincial Constitution Order (PCO), Gen. Musharraf re-constituted the NSC by making the President (himself) the Chairman of the Council.

The three Service Chiefs and the Governors of the four provinces are also members of the NSC.

Under the amended order, the Chairman of the Council would have the powers to co-opt any person he deems fit as member of the Council and he or she shall continue in office at the `pleasure' of the President.

Indications are that besides the regular members of the Council, the Pakistan Foreign Minister, Mr. Abdul Sattar, will be invited to address the NSC meeting.

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