Key meeting on Kashmir policy today

Published November 24, 2003

ISLAMABAD, Nov 23: President Gen Pervez Musharraf will presided over a high-powered Kashmir policy meeting here on Monday that will also be attended by Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali, informed sources told Dawn on Sunday.

Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri, Foreign Secretary Riaz Khokhar and representatives of other foreign policy institutions will also attend the meeting convened at the Aiwan-i-Sadr, the sources said.

“The foreign office team will make a special presentation at the meeting,” they added.

The meeting acquires special significance after recent developments in the Indian held Kashmir, including the break-up of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) and the resolution placed by the breakaway APHC leadership offering to hold unconditional dialogue with India.

This will be the third meeting in 72 hours on Pakistan’s Kashmir policy in the capital, but this one will specifically focus on Kashmir.

The Kashmir issue was also discussed at a special consultation session with key Pakistani envoys at the foreign ministry over the weekend.

According to informed circles all of Pakistan’s policy-making institutions recognize the need for the Kashmiri leadership to be united at this juncture.

The absence of all the APHC leaders at the Pakistan high commission’s annual Iftar reception in New Delhi recently has been seen as an indication of “all is not well” on the Kashmiri political front.

Significantly, a section of the APHC leadership while presenting the resolution at the Jummatul Wida congregation also underscored the need for Kashmiri unity.

Prime Minister Jamali reiterated in his address to the nation on Sunday Pakistan’s keenness to be positive on Pakistan-India relations and again welcomed the India’s proposal of a bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad and re-opening of Khokrapar border in Sindh.

In a reflection of the pro-active stance that the Pakistan government appears to want to take on its India policy, Mr Jamali has also announced a unilateral ceasefire along the LoC from Eid day.

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