DHAKA, July 31: President Gen Pervez Musharraf said on Wednesday that people in occupied Kashmir opposed elections as these were held under coercion and their fairness had always been doubted by the world as well.

Talking to local journalists at a breakfast meeting prior to his departure for Sri Lanka, he said elections could not be a substitute for plebiscite pledged to the Kashmiris under the UN resolutions.

The president pointed out that the world fraternity was already expressing doubts on the fairness of such elections as India had rejected monitoring of these polls by independent observers.

In this regard, he also referred to the observations by US Secretary of State Colin Powell who during his recent visit to the region highlighted the need for allowing international observers to monitor these elections.

To a question, the president said so long as Indian troops remained deployed on border “I will not call the situation as having de-escalated.”

Answering a question about Saarc, the president underlined the need for making the regional grouping effective.

This organization, he said, should be a factor of harmony, capable of addressing and resolving problems among members directly, instead of looking for interlocutors, facilitators or mediator.

“Its future depends on Pakistan-Indian relations,” he stated.

About Pakistan-India relations, the president stressed the need for holding of dialogues to resolve all the outstanding issues, including the Kashmir dispute.

To a question the president said that Pakistan and Bangladesh had agreed that peace and stability were essential pre-conditions to usher in an era of sustained economic development and increased prosperity in South Asia.

About the main achievement of his official visit to Bangladesh, he said: “I now find a strong desire, will and resolve to move forward — that feeling and desire which both sides demonstrated is a major achievement.”

The president said his visit was aimed at promoting Pakistan-Bangladesh relations. The two sides, he stated, had agreed that the contents of their relations particularly economic and cultural should correspond to the immense goodwill existing between the two countries.

To a question on assets, the president reminded that it was a sensitive issue. During the past 31 years, studies had been made on the matter in Bangladesh and Pakistan and the respective conclusions were at variance, he pointed out.

He said if people here talk of assets, the people in Pakistan would talk of liabilities and investments made by Pakistanis and referred to Karnafuli Paper Mill and Adamgee Jute Mill.

About stranded Pakistanis, the president said by now first or second generation have come in, may be, their perception is different from those of their forefathers. He, however, said we need to sit together and try to resolve the matter in a real manner.

Asked about laying of gas pipeline to India through Pakistan, the president said Pakistan would certainly allow Iranian or Qatar gas to reach India and extension of Turkmen gas pipeline, “It is India which needs to reconcile,” he stated.

About Pakistan’s nuclear capability, the president said our potential was for deterrence.

To a question, he said the proposed constitutional amendments were aimed at strengthening the democratic order in Pakistan.

“I am introducing democracy in Pakistan,” he said, adding it had never existed though there had been elected governments.

He said every country has its own environment and democracy needs to be tailored accordingly.

Federal Information and Media Development Minister Nisar A. Memon conducted the proceedings.

Those present included Commerce Minister Abdul Razzak Dawood, Local Government Minister Barrister Shahida Jamil and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Inamul Haq, besides Pakistan High Commissioner in Bangladesh Iqbal Ahmed Khan. —APP