26 October 2004	Tuesday	11 Ramazan 1425

MUZAFFARABAD, Oct 25: AJK Prime Minister Sardar Sikandar Hayat on Monday expressed scepticism about 'frequent' exchanges of delegations between India and Pakistan, stressing that such initiatives should not 'dilute the Kashmir issue'.

"Exchange of delegations is more than required. Perhaps the objective is to dilute tensions but we must ensure that Kashmir does not get diluted in the process," he told a select group of newsmen in his office.

Asked about Pakistan's offer of 'give and take' to resolve Kashmir, he said there should be someone to take responsibility and become guarantor (between the two sides). But simultaneously he said if at all this formula was applied "what was with us to give (to India)?"

On the option of Kashmir's complete independence, he said Kashmiris should be asked what their choice was.

"If they favour independence of the state, then who am I to reject it? The basic thing is to respect the opinion and decision of the Kashmiris." However, in the same breath he said it should also be seen whether Pakistan and India would agree to this proposal.

"For India it is more difficult, because then it will have to accede to the demands of independence in many of its states where separatist movements are running," he said, adding the honourable and face-saving solution for India was to agree to a plebiscite.

"Kashmir is a landlocked area with four nuclear powers in its neighbourhood. So who will be prepared to keep it (as an) independent (state)," he asked.

Mr Hayat said maintenance of a status quo was neither beneficial for India nor for Pakistan nor for the Kashmiris.

"Kashmiris have suffered the worst over the past six decades and none of them living on either side of the divide would accept the status quo."

When told that some Kashmiris feared Pakistan might take a U-turn on Kashmir like it did in the case of Afghanistan, he said: "A U-turn on Kashmir would be self-destructive because Pakistan's defence and economy depends largely on Kashmir."

In response to President Musharraf's offer to convert Kashmir into a demilitarized zone, he said the defence and security of Azad Kashmir was the responsibility of Pakistan and he would never recommend this region to be left unattended.

"AJK does not have its own force which could defend this territory. How can we believe India will not invade it once the Pakistani troops are out," he said.

The PM said he believed India and Pakistan were serious in launching the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service, but added that the Kashmiris' viewpoint in this regard was crystal clear.

Answering questions on AJK politics, he said there was no crisis here but conceded that some people were angry with the government. He was sure the annoyed colleagues would shortly find a 'middle ground'.

He said some ministers had asked their four former colleagues to rejoin the cabinet.

"If they want to come back they are most welcome. But if they insisted for the induction of their other colleagues in the cabinet, it would be difficult."

On the rebel lawmakers' reported letter to President Musharraf, he said if they had asked him to intervene for reconciliation in AJK "then it was a good thing". But if the president was urged to dissolve the system, then this could not be appreciated, he added.

Mr Hayat admitted the role of the 'powers that be' in AJK affairs and candidly said: "We don't send files to Murree (for approval), but whatever we have to ask, we do ask verbally."

Murree houses the office of General Officer Commander of Pakistan army who looks after the AJK affairs.

He said the accountability law would be amended in the next session of the Legislative Assembly in accordance with the recommendations of a ministerial committee.