09 November 2004	Tuesday	25 Ramazan 1425

ISLAMABAD, Nov 8: Pakistan on Monday said that no solution based on the Line of Control would be acceptable to it, adding there was no pre-conceived formula for the settlement of the Kashmir dispute.

"The status quo is the problem; not the solution," foreign office spokesman Masood Khan said at his weekly press briefing, responding to a statement by MQM chief Altaf Hussain that the LoC be accepted as the permanent border.

The spokesman said all issues relating to Jammu and Kashmir were subject to debate and negotiations.

He further said that "any solution to the dispute has to be in accordance with the wishes of the people of Kashmir. There is no pre-conceived formula".

In reply to a question about an Indian defence ministry report on the alleged cross-LoC infiltration, the spokesman said the claim was incorrect. He said it was advisable for the Indian ministry to desist from making such statements.

He said the Indians had to make up their mind: one week there was a statement that infiltration had gone down, and next week they said it had gone up.

"They have to be clear in what they are saying," he added.

The real issue was the resolution of issues of human rights abuses in occupied Kashmir, he pointed out.

He said the ceasefire between the two countries at the LoC had been holding since Oct 25, 2003, and termed it "the biggest CBM put in place."

Answering a question about the proposed Muzaffarabad-Srinagar bus service, the spokesman said talks would be held next month and experts would discuss all aspects of the matter, including travel documents.-APP