July 14, 2008	Monday	Rajab 10, 1429

LAHORE, July 13: A Pakistan People’s Party-Shaheed Bhutto (PPP-SB) leader has said that Pakistan and India have agreed on self-governance for Kashmir without dividing it, but they are reluctant to withdraw forces from the Line of Control on the pretext of cross-border infiltration.

Speaking at a seminar entitled “Kashmir Issue and South Asian Peace” organised by the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) at the Lahore Press Club on Sunday, Dr Mubashir Hasan said that India and Pakistan, who had been ruling Kashmir for the last many years through proxy governments, had agreed to resolve the issue because of internal pressure.

He said both countries had agreed to form a central government in Kashmir, but the State would remain divided because of their refusal to withdraw forces from the LOC.

He, however, said that Kashmiri leaders had not endorsed the Indian and Pakistani structure of governance so far. He said that Kashmiri leaders were one on keeping their homeland united and deciding its future on the principle of right to self-determination.

JKLF Chairman Sardar Saghir Ahmed said Indian and Pakistani rulers did not allow peace to prevail in Kashmir.

“They want to thrust an artificial solution on people of Kashmir,” he added.

Azad Kashmir People’s Party President Sardar Khalid Ibrahim said the Kashmir issue would have to be resolved by giving Kashmiris right to self-determination because it was not an integral part of India or Pakistan.

National Liberation Front Chairman Shaukat Maqbool Butt said Kashmiris should be allowed to decide their future.

He said there was no justification for accession of Kashmir to Pakistan on the basis of religion.