Musharraf says peace linked to Kashmir
“It is my earnest appeal to the Indian leadership to take advantage of the spirit created in the wake of the earthquake and move towards the resolution of Kashmir issue that is acceptable to the Kashmiris,” the president told a public meeting held here in the riverside Neelum stadium to mark Kashmir Solidarity Day.
The day is being observed in Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir for the past 15 years to express solidarity with the Kashmiris struggling for their right to self-determination under the shadow of Indian bullets and bayonets.
“I appeal to the world, as well as India, that we should advance the Kashmir issue alongside other confidence building measures taken by the two countries,” President Musharraf said.
However, at the same time, he made it clear that Pakistan’s original stand on Kashmir would remain unchanged if India chose not to seize the moment.
He said Kashmir was running in his blood and efforts that he had been making for its resolution were part of his faith and determination.
“We want to find a political solution to the Kashmir issue because peace cannot come to the region without settlement of this dispute,” he said.
He recalled that he had welcomed Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s statement wherein the latter had said that settlement of Kashmir issue was essential and talks with Pakistan in this regard were also indispensable.
“I pay tributes to him because it is the first time he has stated things very clearly.”
“If he has given that statement with good intent, I assure we will move forward with him and (eventually) find out a solution to this problem.”
The president pointed out that the November 2003 cease-fire was aimed at mitigating the miseries of people living along the Line of Control.
“We suggested the opening of five crossing points along the LoC in the same spirit to enable Kashmiris to meet their near and dear ones,” he said, adding a truck service was also planned for the economic prosperity of Kashmiris.
Of his demilitarisation and self-rule proposals, he said they could probably bring the practice of killing innocent civilians in occupied Kashmir to an end.
“We say that troops should be withdrawn from Srinagar, Baramulla and Kupwara. This is just an administrative matter and not a constitutional problem for India,” he said, regretting that India was yet to respond to his proposals which he had given in writing about eight months ago.
Without naming them, President Musharraf came down hard on the country’s two former prime ministers who, he said, had accused him of a sell-out on Kashmir “just to keep their politics going”.
They were the people who removed the Kashmir House signboard in Islamabad before the Indian prime minister’s visit and the other person was to sign a declaration in Lahore without any mention of Kashmir which was included on his intervention, he said of Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif.
Referring to reconstruction work in earthquake-affected areas, he said the government would build new educational and healthcare institutions in the quake hit zone.
“We have so far distributed Rs12 billion among the victims. Now we will distribute another Rs80 billion for construction of houses, half of which will be given in AJK,” he said. In all, he said, Rs125 billion would be spent.
The president said if the AJK government carried out its responsibilities honestly, the area would become an ideal place. “It’s my promise that I will supervise the whole process and will remain involved in it,” he said.
Gen Musharraf, who had earlier showered praise on the military for its role in the quake-hit zone, said the political leaders should lend a helping hand to the people and the army.
“The world is looking at us and how we cope with this crisis,” he said. AJK President Sardar Anwar Khan and Prime Minister Sardar Sikandar Hayat also spoke on the occasion and thanked President Musharraf for his personal interest in the rehabilitation of the victims of worst-ever natural disaster.
The president was expected in the town around noon but his arrival was delayed by more than three hours.
Authorities had placed watertight security in the town where life is gradually returning to normality nearly four months after the quake.
Gun-wielding troopers from army, Rangers and local police were deployed in almost all localities of the town, but their concentration was the highest in the Shaukat Lines – where the venue of public meeting is located. Private vehicles and public transport was completely barred from movement on road passing through Shaukat Lines, causing great deal of inconvenience of residents of the area.