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ISLAMABAD, May 20: The military leadership on Tuesday declared that Pakistan wanted resolution of all issues with India but would not “sideline” the core issue of Kashmir.
A corps commanders meeting held at the General Headquarters discussed the Indian prime minister’s offer of friendship and declared that Pakistan wanted resolution of all outstanding issues with India through a meaningful dialogue but would not compromise on its honour and dignity or “allow itself to be coerced.”
President Gen Pervez Musharraf presided over the meeting.
A statement issued by the Directorate of Inter-Services Public Relations after the day-long meeting said: “Pakistan stood for peace in the region and peaceful resolution of all outstanding issues with India, including the core issue of Kashmir, through a meaningful dialogue based on sovereign equality.”
The meeting, which was held one day after the government-opposition talks on the contentious points of the Legal Framework Order, did not make any mention of the LFO or the president’s decision to keep the office of the Chief of the Army Staff.
An official of the ISPR said it was not on the agenda.
All the important issues concerning Pakistan’s relations with foreign countries and political developments in the country were discussed at the meeting.
The ISPR announcement said the president briefed the military commanders about his recent meetings with President Hamid Karzai, Prince Karim Aga Khan, US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Armitage and the special envoy of the king of Morocco.
President Musharraf also briefed the commanders about Pakistan’s relations with Afghanistan and informed them that “complete cordiality existed between the two brotherly countries.”
He said his relations with President Hamid Karzai were extremely positive and there was unanimity of views on all regional issues between the two countries.
The announcement said that the participants including corps commanders and Principal Staff Officers deliberated on matters pertaining to operational preparedness and the prevailing geo-strategic environment in the region.
The participants were also briefed about the external and internal security situation in the country.
TIES WITH INDIA: President’s Press Secretary Maj-Gen Rashid Qureshi said that the meeting expressed satisfaction over thawing of relations with India, Ihtashamul Haque adds.
Talking to Dawn, he said Pakistan had been stressing the need for resumption of dialogue with India to resolve all outstanding issues between the two countries amicably.
However, he said, the president made it clear that Pakistan would not accept any unilateral decision on Kashmir and that any solution must not ignore the interests of Pakistan and the Kashmiris.
Rashid Qureshi said the president told the participants that Pakistan would not comprise on its principles and that the Kashmir issue would not be allowed to be sidelined.
