10 November 2004	Wednesday	26 Ramazan 1425

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KARACHI, Nov 9: Founder of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Altaf Hussain has explained his remarks about Pakistan's creation, and the Line of Control in Kashmir.

In an interview telecast by Hyderabad Deccan's Urdu ETV, he said that in retrospect, Pakistan's creation appeared to be a mistake to him as the new-born state had shut its doors on Muslims of India soon after its creation. But now that the partition had been a reality for 57 years, it cannot be undone.

He, therefore, urged that instead of living in perpetual hostility, India and Pakistan should not only respect each other's sovereignty, but should also pick up clues from the European Union to build good neighbourly relations through promotion of trade and travel between the two countries.

He said that the Khokhrapar route should be re-opened to facilitate reunion among divided families, a vast majority of whom resided in Sindh.

About the LoC, the MQM leader dispelled the impression that he had called for making it a permanent border. His idea was to call for resumption of a dialogue on the issue.

"I never stated that LoC be made a permanent border. (When) the LoC had been in existence for decades, then what was the harm in treating it as border for a few weeks or months. Once the parleys get under way, grounds will automatically be covered and many solutions will emerge. That will pave the way for the solution of Kashmir," he said.

MEETS ADVANI: The MQM chief also met the president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and India's former deputy prime minister L.K. Advani during which Mr Advani assured him that the BJP, which had initiated the peace process with Pakistan, would not only continue to support it but would extend all possible cooperation for the process to succeed.

The MQM leader exchanged views on a number of issues like restoration of better and good neighbourly ties, ways to promote people-to-people contact, opening up of the Khokhrapar route and allowing the setting up of visa facilities at Karachi.