ISLAMABAD, Sept 6: President Gen Pervez Musharraf said on Friday evening it was imperative for Pakistan and India to start dialogue for resolution of Kashmir dispute and that it can be solved “if India shows flexibility and pragmatism.”
“It’s important to start talking before going further for problem solution,” he told a questioner in the BBC’s World’s ‘Question Time Pakistan (QTP)’.
“What we are saying is that let us, first of all, start talking,” the president said, urging: “we must accept the centrality of the Kashmir issue.”
He said when he went to Agra, his suggestion to Indian leadership was based on a four-point strategy, including the one on the need to start talking, then to accept the centrality of Kashmir issue that it was the dispute between the two neighbours.
He agreed to a questioner that it was not justifiable to spend billions of rupees on Kashmir issue, and try to kill each other. “But, we are not the culprit. It’s India which is showing intransigence. They are not even starting to talk.”
“I agree with you. It is not prudent at all on Indian side as well as our side,” he told the questioner.
The president replied to a variety of questions including those on restoration of democracy, institution of NSC, Pakistani prisoners in Guantanamo Bay, Oct 10 general polls, Pakistan-India relations and Kashmir.
On Pakistani prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay, the President said his government was trying for their release “as soon as possible.”
“May be very soon. As soon as I go there (the United States) or before I get there”, he observed.
He said if they were not released before his arrival in the US, he would take up this issue with the US authorities, and added “I would like to raise this issue with US authorities, because the prisoners comprise misguided people and they were not involved in any kind of Al Qaeda activities.”
Replying to a question, the president said he was different from his predecessors.
He lauded the contribution made by President Ayub Khan. “I think, we should not be thankless to what Ayub Khan had done for the country. In those 10 years, the country witnessed green revolution and industrial revolution, and there was allround development.” Warsak, Mangla and Tarbela dams were built and Islamabad was developed during those days, he added.—APP
