KARACHI, July 27: Veteran Kashmiri leader Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan has stated that Gen Pervez Musharraf is the only president who can withstand all sorts of foreign pressure.

The struggle of Kashmiris and the principled stand of the government have resulted in growing recognition in the US, Britain and other Western countries about the urgency of resolving the issue before it could again aggravate the situation threatening the peace in South Asia, he added.

Sardar Qayyum, who is chairman of the National Kashmir Committee, talking to Dawn during his recent visit to Karachi, said although war had been averted between India and Pakistan, the chances of a conflict persist.

He recalled the experience of the recent visit of the committee, comprising Mushahid Hussain and P.K. Shahani, to the US and Britain where they had interaction with think-tanks, senior journalists, representatives of the Asia Watch, Amnesty International and human rights organisations. “We found them very receptive. Everywhere people were interested to know the situation in Kashmir and about the possibility of escalation of tension again which could lead the two nuclear powered countries to war.”

They were also interviewed by Indian journalists, who, in their reports, endorsed the urgency of finding solution to the Kashmir issue, he said.

They were asked about credibility of Pervez Musharraf’s pledge to stop cross-border infiltration and on involvement of Al Qaeda and Taliban in the Kashmiris freedom struggle.

Their confusion was removed by explaining them the ground realities. There was no reason to doubt the president’s credibility on any account, Sardar Qayyum emphasised.

Pointing out that Kashmir was a recognised issue Sardar Qayyum said induction of Al Qaeda or Taliban could only harm the cause. The ongoing freedom struggle in Kashmir was purely indigenous, he emphasised, and asked the US and western governments to send their representatives to visit Kashmir to ascertain the nature of the struggle.

Demanding Pakistan to stop what India called cross-border infiltration was meaningless, he said. If 800,000 Indian troops deployed in the occupied valley, could not stop Kashmiris from waging struggle, how could 50,000 Pakistan army do that.

He stressed the need not to pressure President Musharraf to the extent that extremist elements on both sides could benefit.

As far as the allegation of recovery of weapons from Mujahideen in the occupied valley, he said he had made it clear that supply of weapons was not any problem. You make payment in Dubai and get any type of weapon delivered in the occupied valley.

Sardar Qayyum said that there was a need to differentiate between freedom struggle and terrorism. However, he did not rule out some incidents of terrorism in the name of liberation movement. But it was later proved that the Indian Research and Analysis Wing had planned them. “There is no link of freedom movement and Islam with terrorism,” he said.

The veteran Kashmiri leader said that he was not opposed to elections provided its objectives should be made public, fair elections be ensured and they should not be construed an alternative to right of self-determination and taking oath under Indian constitution should not be made binding. In addition, the election should be monitored by international observers. If these conditions were met we would not oppose the elections. He, however, advised the leadership in the occupied valley not to participate in the October election.

Suggesting solution of the present deadlock, Sardar Qayyum said that a process should be initiated by allowing Kashmiris to meet each other, tension on the Line of Control be eased, conducive environment be created so that the leadership on both sides sit together to find a consensus solution, delegations be exchanged, a demilitarised zone be set up on LoC where Kashmiris could sit together, mutual trade be started.

He said once the process was initiated, a consensus solution could be evolved. However, he made it clear that there was need to initiate the process before holding sham elections in the valley.

The Kashmiri leader pointed out that the United Nations Security Council had rejected polls in 1957 and 1998 as a substitute of plebiscite.

He said with the improvement of situation of local militancy would also subside when Kashmiris would see that steps were being taken to resolve the issue peacefully.

Sardar Qayyum warned against continuing with the status quo which could lead to war like situation which would be dangerous. About the outcome of a nuclear war between the two countries, nothing could be said.

“We don’t want war but we are also prepared to compromise on our principled stand of holding plebiscite which is in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions.

Terming Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee’s Lahore visit by bus a historic occasion to initiate a process to find an acceptable solution, he said the opportunity was lost because Mr Vajpayee made the mistake of not including Kashmiri leaders with him.

“Without involving Kashmiris in the process a solution of the issue cannot be found which would be acceptable to the people,” he warned.

He called upon political parties in Pakistan not to follow their own agenda vis-a-vis Kashmir. At a time when the issue was in its final stage there was need to have a consensus agenda, he said.