MUZAFFARABAD, April 4: The AJK chapter of People's Party (PPAJK) on Sunday warned Islamabad against striking any "secret deal" on Kashmir. At a function held here to mark the 25th death anniversary of PPP's founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the local leaders demanded "safe and honourable" return of the party chairperson Benazir Bhutto to the country, to be taken into confidence on the proposed India-Pakistan talks.

"Given the regional and international situation, Pakistan is in dire need of the recognized and visionary leadership of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto," PPAJK secretary information Khwaja Farooq Ahmed said.

"The rulers are incapable of handling the crafty Indian leadership during the forthcoming talks and therefore they must avail themselves of the skills of our chairperson in diplomacy," he said.

Apart from that, he asserted, only Ms Bhutto had the ability to steer the country out of the crisis caused by the "ill conceived policies" of the regime. He said the PPP chairperson must be taken into confidence on the agenda of the upcoming India-Pakistan composite dialogue in view of the "mistrust and misgivings" prevailing among the Kashmiri circles.

"Of late Pakistani rulers have been unnecessarily showing benevolence to India which has given birth to suspicions that some secret deal on the issue might have been struck by the two sides," he said. "We won't compromise our right to self-determination," he said. The PPAJK leader also called for immediate release of Ms Bhutto's spouse and former senator Asif Ali Zardari and all other political detainees.