28 September 2004	Tuesday	12 Shaban 1425

ISLAMABAD, Sept 27: The prevailing status quo on Kashmir would continue straining the economies of the two nations by diverting utilization of their resources towards defence purposes.

This was stated by Adish C Aggarwal, leader of an Indian jurists delegation, while talking to reporters at a reception hosted in the honour of the delegation by Chief Justice Nazim Hussain Siddiqui at the Supreme Court building on Monday.

The 15-member delegation of jurists and All India Bar Association is visiting the country on the invitation of Pakistan Bar Council. Mr Aggarwal asked the journalists whether it would be possible for the leaders of the two country to surrender an inch of their land. Therefore, the only viable solution to come out of the present impasse on Kashmir is to accept LoC as permanent international borders, he said, reminding that "we have been talking on this issue since 1972 and also fought wars, but to no avail".

He reiterated that sooner or later, the Line of Control dividing the state of Kashmir, would become an international border. If the people from the lawyers community succeeded in creating awareness about the ground realities on LoC, then the issue of accepting it as a permanent border would be decided in a few years, otherwise it would take a long time, he said.

Mr Aggarwal, however, appreciated that both President Pervez Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh were trying sincerely to resolve the issue because both the governments were tired of huge spending on defence. Answering a question, he said Pakistan had not shown any flexibility on its stand on Kashmir even during the present dialogues.