ISLAMABAD, Dec 19: Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad said on Friday that basically “plebiscite is the best option” to solve the Kashmir issue but if the Indian authorities “show sincerity” in the resolution of this longstanding issue the other options “can also be considered.”

“If the Indian government is sincere in solving this issue, we have some alternative proposals which can be considered by taking the Kashmiris into confidence,” the minister told a private TV channel.

He said these views were conveyed by President Gen Pervez Musharraf to an Indian delegation of Young President Organization (YPO), which visited Pakistan recently.

President Musharraf will take the Kashmiri leaders into confidence very soon, he said, adding the Kashmiri leadership from other side of the LoC would also be consulted if so required.

Replying to a question, he said Pakistan “wants the process of dialogue to go ahead.”

The international community has clearly been told by Pakistan that solution of Kashmir issue is imperative if they want progress towards peace in the region, he said.

President Musharraf has taken very bold steps in this regard and is committed to solving this dispute by taking the Kashmiris into confidence, the minister said.

The president has some proposals for the solution of this issue which would be presented at an appropriate time and platform, he said.

He said the UN resolutions on Kashmir “cannot be ignored” rather the clauses in them which “may pose trouble in implementation can be discussed.”

He said: “Pakistan wants resolution of the Kashmir issue in accordance with the wishes of Kashmiris so that it could focus on its progress and prosperity.”

Unless this issue is settled no progress can be made in this regard, he added.

The air, train and bus links were established and broken a number of times in the past but no step forward could be taken towards the establishment of real peace as there was lack of bold leadership on both the sides, he said.

“Luckily,” he said, “there is bold leadership in Pakistan at present and there is a beam of hope in the person of Prime Minister Vajpayee on the other side.” —APP