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Musharraf forms panel on Kashmir
By B. Muralidhar Reddy
ISLAMABAD, JAN. 9. In a signal that henceforth Islamabad's support to Kashmir would focus on ``moral, diplomatic and political'' elements, the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, tonight announced constitution of a ``National Kashmir Committee'' to be headed by former Prime Minister and President of Pakistan occupied Kashmir, (PoK), Muhammad Abdul Qayyum Khan. Sardar Qayyum, considered a ``moderate'', has been a vocal advocate of peace initiatives by India and Pakistan since the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen first announced brief ceasefire in July 2000 and India followed it up with a Ramzan initiative in November.
Braving criticism from several quarters Sardar Qayyum had appealed to various militant groups based in Pakistan to follow the example of the Hizb. He had also made a passionate plea to all concerned to give peace a chance after the Ramzan peace initiative. He was also opposed to the involvement of the ``jehadi'' groups based in Pakistan in militancy in Kashmir and consequently he was sidelined for several years.
Similar committees have been constituted in the past. The last such panel was formed during the regime of Nawaz Sharif and it was headed by Sarwar Chaudhary. Veteran politician, Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan, led the earlier committee.
Sardar Qayyum told The Hindu that ``for the first time such a committee is being headed by a Kashmiri and more important every one is well versed with my views on the Kashmir issue. I believe the committee would definitely help in search for a solution to the problem''.
The Government announcement said the first meeting of the committee is scheduled to be held on January 15 and it would be addressed by Gen. Musharraf. The mandate for the committee would be to project the ``Kashmir cause'' at the international level and mobilise world opinion to settle it according to the U.N. resolutions, besides ``highlighting human rights violations of the Indian security forces.''
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