Kashmir to top dialogue: Musharraf
Musharraf Says he will meet Indian premier on September 19 in New York;
grants Rs 50 million for AJK uplift
President Pervez Musharraf has expressed readiness for constructive and meaningful dialogue with India to find a solution to the Kashmir dispute "as progress in India and Pakistan is not possible without it." He was addressing the joint session of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly and Jammu and Kashmir Council here on Monday. Gen Musharraf, however, regretted that unfortunately New Delhi was not prepared to pick out the issue as compelling one to be dealt with exigency. He categorically declared that resolution of Kashmir problem would remain top priority of his government and assured all out support to the Kashmiris in their just struggle for their right to self-determination. He said that the Jammu and Kashmir problem was the cause of economic backwardness of India and Pakistan and therefore it had to be resolved for progress and prosperity of both the countries. "During the Agra Summit, I have stated unequivocally what I stand for. Prime Minister Vajpayee was told that Kashmir problem had to be resolved in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiris who were ultimate arbitrators of their fate," he said.
Musharraf assured the House that Pakistan would continue to extend the political, moral and diplomatic support to the Kashmiris. He said although the Agra Summit did not produce desired results, but it was a step forward towards more substantive dialogues on the Kashmir issue. He said that he would meet the Indian Prime Minister in New York on September 19. "It does not matter that talks are held in Agra, New York or Islamabad but there can be no compromise on the principle position on Kashmir. Our position on the issue is obvious that there can be no solution to the problem without Kashmiri peoples' consent," he said. "Notwithstanding the rigidity of Indian rulers, there is a silver lining that better sense will prevail soon," he said. "There are indications from across the border that Mr.Vajpayee would like to see me. There are some protocol matters. They (Indians) expect I should invite him. I don't believe in protocol, nor do I have any ego. I will invite him because I want to have a meeting with him," the President said. He further said that there were bigger issues involved in the meeting (with Indian Prime Minister) and he did not want them to be left behind because of petty issues like who would invite and who would not.
Dispelling the impression that he (president) was rigid or unifocal, President Musharraf said that he never declined to discuss other issues with India. "I am prepared to discuss all issues with India besides Kashmir but it will be a futile exercise. Recalling the Agra summit, the President said: "We went there with good intentions." He said that he did not take with him ministers for commerce or communications so that he could tell the Indians that he wanted to discuss political issues and not commerce, trade, and cultural exchanges. The President said that he and Mr.Vajpayee had reached an "agreed joint declaration" in Agra on July 16, but the Indians rejected it at the last minute due to their internal differences. "They would be in the know of its reason, but I felt sad that in spite of agreeing to a joint declaration we could not sign it." "I definitely asked Mr.Vajpayee that what he wants to do next and how should they proceed now and has this process come to an end? To this he replied that the process should continue and he (Vajpayee) would try his best in this regard," said the President. He said there was a lot of support in Indian media and public that Islamabad and Delhi should resolve Kashmir issue through dialogue. "I am hopeful that talks will be held. But first we will seek acceptance of Kashmir as a dispute. Once this is done, then in the next step we will discuss how to resolve the issue," he said and added that discussion on the solutions at this stage could create complexities.
He also condemned the special powers given to Indian troops to arrest any person. "This is against all international norms and I condemn it strongly," he said. Pakistan had no external threat to its security, as country's defence, by the grace of God, was invincible, he added. However, he said, Pakistan was facing internal threat due to unstable economy. Corruption, loot and plunder on the part of successive governments and ill management of economy had thrown the country into chaos, he added.
He said that his government was facing challenges of revival of economy and eradication of poverty. The solution to these problems, he said, was development of agriculture sector, for which the government had decided to develop water reservoirs and streamline the water system. He said that the government had planned to construct new dams and canals and improve irrigation system to benefit the agrarian sector, the backbone of country's economy. The President said that the federal government would continue to provide financial assistance for the development of AJK. He said Muzaffarabad, the capital of Azad Kashmir, would be provided with natural gas. He announced Rs.50 million special grant for AJK.
Earlier, Prime Minister Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan, in his speech, thanked President General Pervez Musharraf for addressing the joint session. Expressing his gratitude to the President of Pakistan for advocating the Kashmir case at Agra summit in an effective way and highlighting the Kashmir issue at international level, Sikandar said that it had embolden the morale and courage of the Kashmiris. He said the liberation of Jammu and Kashmir is important for the Kashmiris but the stability and security of Pakistan is more important than that. "The liberation struggle in Kashmir is meant to complete Pakistan by making Kashmir a part of it," he said.
India asks mission to tie up details: NY meeting confirmed
Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has formally accepted an invitation from President Pervez Musharraf for talks on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly next month in New York, an Indian government spokeswoman said here on Monday.
"We are asking our permanent mission in New York to tie up details of the time and venue with the Pakistan permanent mission," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Nirupama Rao said in New Delhi. She said the meeting in the United States "will provide an opportunity to the two leaders to pick up the threads from the discussions at Agra and give guidelines for further interaction".
The announcement of the New York meeting came a day after Mr.Vajpayee said that he would like to discuss Kashmir as well as issues relating to bilateral trade at a meeting with President Musharraf. The invitation by Musharraf for the meeting was conveyed by Pakistan's High Commissioner in New Delhi, Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, when he called on Foreign Secretary Chokila Iyer here on Friday, she said, as reported by the IANS website. The Prime Minister would arrive in New York on Sept 22 and would return home after addressing the UN General Assembly on Sept 25. The meeting with Musharraf would take place during the visit, officials said.
Amnesty Condemns
The Amnesty International on Monday joined a chorus of criticism over an Indian government proposal to grant immunity to soldiers who violate human rights in occupied Kashmir and India's northeast.
"No one should be allowed to operate outside the law. Any proposal to allow security forces to commit human rights violations with impunity is unacceptable," the human rights organization said in an open letter to Home Minister L.K. Advani. Advani last week said the government was "seriously considering relief for personnel" who are battling Kashmiri Mujahideen and rebels in the northeastern states.
The Amnesty has frequently condemned India for human rights abuses in occupied Kashmir, including the use of extrajudicial executions and illegal detentions.
