Pak. harps on U.N. resolutions

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, AUG. 9. The two-day official visit of the Lebanese Prime Minister, Mr. Rafic al-Hariri, which concluded here on Wednesday, once again provided an opportunity to the Musharraf Government to harp on the theme of United Nations resolutions on Kashmir and the right of Kashmiris for self-determination.

The Pakistan President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, chose the banquet hosted by him in honour of the visiting dignitary on Tuesday to equate the case of Lebanon and Kashmir and highlight the U.N. resolutions on Kashmir and Palestine.

In the run-up to the Agra summit as well as during his visit to India, the Pakistani military ruler had refrained from making any reference to the U.N. resolutions and plebiscite in Kashmir. This was construed in various circles as demonstration of ``flexibility'' by Islamabad.

With India and Pakistan now engaged in war of wits on the outcome of the Agra summit, it appears that Islamabad has once again decided to fall back on its time-tested theme. Gen. Musharraf sought to link Kashmir to the situation in Palestine, though the visiting dignitary confined himself to the Israeli occupation of a part of Lebanon and its refusal to abide by the U.N. resolutions. ``Both our countries are suffering from regional instability which negatively affects economic development'', was all the Lebanese Prime Minister said.

The Lebanese Prime Minister was here in response to an invitation from Gen. Musharraf and Islamabad rolled out a red carpet to him.

The two leaders had a one-on-one meeting and discussed issues of bilateral interest. Gen. Musharraf briefed Mr. Hariri on Pakistan's regional perspective, relations with India and his recent visit to India, the Kashmir issue, Afghanistan, and Pakistan's position on non-proliferation and disarmament. Mr. Hariri briefed the President on the situation in Lebanon and the situation in the Middle East.

The two delegations met on Wednesday and held detailed review of the entire gamut of Pakistan-Lebanon bilateral relations and agreed to further enhance bilateral cooperation in all spheres.

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Section  : International
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