Musharraf seeks people’s support: Settlement of Kashmir dispute
ISLAMABAD, April 26: President General Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday said the Jammu and Kashmir dispute would be resolved with the support of the people and vowed that he would never let the Kashmiri people and the Pakistani nation down in this regard.
The president said the Kashmir problem was complex and sought the Pakistani nation’s support on moving forward towards its resolution.
“This is a complex issue. It will take a great effort to take it forward towards a solution. We have to take the process forward prudently.
“I expect support from all Pakistanis in this difficult task because in full sincerity, I want to resolve this issue once and for all,” he told Pakistan Television in a special edition of Roo Baroo Programme to be aired on Wednesday.
The president also dismissed as utterly wrong any suggestion of a U-turn on the issue.
“That impression is absolutely false,” he stated emphatically.
In response to a question the president said he had made it clear to the Indian leadership that the Line of Control could never be accepted as a permanent border.
He said the Kashmiris had suffered the most due to the lingering dispute.
“Life is at a standstill for them. India has also suffered a lot, politically, diplomatically, militarily and internationally.
“This irritant affects their stature at a time when they are trying to get permanent membership of the UN Security Council.”
Pakistan, he said, had also suffered, but its economy had done well. He said the recent steps had been taken to mitigate the sufferings of the Kashmiri people.
“My efforts are aimed at reducing the sufferings of the Kashmiri people,” he said.
Pakistan, he said, no more faced allegations of the so-called ‘cross-border terrorism’.—APP
