CBMs won't move ahead alone: Pak.

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, JULY 12. The Pakistani military ruler and President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, has said that without a movement forward on the settlement of the core issue of Kashmir, all the confidence building measures (CBMs) will not help improve relations between India and Pakistan.

``Kashmir is the core issue. If we will not move forward for its settlement, all CBMs and other related issues will not move ahead. This is the main idea,'' said Gen. Musharraf in an interview with PTV.

Gen. Musharraf has cautioned that it would be `premature' to expect a solution to the Kashmir problem in his very first meeting with the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee. He said the talks could eventually move on towards a solution.

Gen. Musharraf told the state-run television channel that he considered initiating a process of movement towards the resolution as extremely essential. ``Because this is not only my hope but also that of the people of Pakistan.''

He claimed that a complete consensus existed in Pakistan to begin a dialogue with India for seeking a settlement to reduce tension. ``There is a total consensus on the issue of initiating a dialogue with India. Kashmir is the core issue and if we do not move ahead towards its solution there will not be progress on other related issues.''

Gen. Musharraf told PTV that this was the main idea, which emerged out of consultations he had had in the last two years with all segments of society in the run-up to the summit. ``They have reposed confidence in me and given backing to me. So I am going to India with a full strength of the nation behind me.''

Positive expectations

Gen. Musharraf told the television that not only Pakistani and Indian people but also the whole world were expecting ``positive results''. He would talk to Mr. Vajpayee with frankness and sincerity and would highlight the centrality of the Kashmir issue.

``Kashmir will be the focal point of the talks. India wants to sideline the issue but I will promote the centrality and importance of the issue,'' he said.

In reply to a question, Gen. Musharraf said he was ready to discuss Kashmir with Mr. Vajpayee in its totality. ``We will talk on Kashmir in totality,'' he said in response to a question on the reported statement by the Prime Minister that New Delhi would have talks on Kashmir in its totality.

``There should be talks on Kashmir and whatever its mode we will go along them (Indians). Then we will see how the discussion proceeds ahead,'' he said. Asked on his vision of South Asia, Gen. Musharraf said, ``it is the only region in the world, which is not cooperating for its economic development''.

``It is poverty-stricken and economically-deprived region and it is because of the tension. We have always been saying that the root cause is the Kashmir dispute. Solve it and this tension will end and there will be economic development. This will be good for the betterment and prosperity of the poor and this is what I want``.

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