May 24, 2002	Friday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 11,1423

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ISLAMABAD, May 23: Chief of Jamaat-i-Islami, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, said on Thursday that talks with the government are only possible if President Gen Pervez Musharraf appoints a full-time chief of army staff (COAS) and takes the nation into confidence to face a possible break out of war with India.

In a statement issued here, Qazi Hussain said that if it was the duty of the religious parties to produce patriotism and national spirit among the people, it was the duty of the government to create an atmosphere conducive for talks and take measures that could help in creating harmony and solidarity in the society.

He asserted that if India could adopt an aggressive policy of crushing Kashmir’s freedom movement with its military might and declare Kashmir its integral part, why couldn’t the government announce its unequivocal support to Kashmiris’ right to self-determination.

The JI chief observed that the whole world had recognized Kashmir as a disputed territory and that its future could only be decided on the basis of the United Nations Security Council resolutions which promised the people of Kashmir their right to self-determination through a plebiscite.

Qazi said, Indian stand of declaring Kashmir as its integral part and its continued repression in occupied Kashmir had prolonged the issue for more than five decades and they were the real concerns for the people in the region.

He asked Gen Musharraf to take the public into confidence, send the army officials to their respective units from civil departments, and categorically announce that the general elections would be held in October.

He also demanded dismissal of the chief election commissioner and appointment of a noncontroversial person to replace him.