ID :
68058
Sat, 06/27/2009 - 20:42
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/68058
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Musharraf claims Kashmir was near resolution during his regime
Rezaul H Laskar
Islamabad, June 27 (PTI) Former Pakistan President Pervez
Musharraf has claimed that the Kashmir problem was near
resolution during his regime and dismissed accusations that
the powerful army did not want the settlement of the issue.
Musharraf claimed he and former Indian Prime Minister
Atal Bihari Vajpayee had, during the 2001 Agra summit, even
agreed to the draft of a joint declaration under which all
issues, including Kashmir, could have been resolved.
"But the Indian leadership changed their mind at the last
minute and did not support the joint declaration, saying that
the Cabinet had not approved it," Musharraf said in an
interview to Pakistan's private television channel 'Dunya
News'.
Accusations that the army does not want a resolution to
Kashmir issue are "vicious propaganda" and the need for the
army would remain even if the problem is resolved, he said.
Musharraf said he held talks with all stakeholders in the
Kashmir issue, including the Hurriyat Conference and the
leadership of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, for the resolution of
the issue "but no one could guide me in the right direction."
He also said he had convinced the entire leadership in
Kashmir, except hardliner Ali Shah Gilani, about his
four-point formula which envisaged de-militarisation and joint
control of the region.
Musharraf said Pakistan, India and the Kashmiris must
achieve consensus for a durable and lasting solution to the
Kashmir issue, and all three parties would have to adopt an
approach of give and take to settle the matter.
He again rejected former premier Nawaz Sharif's stand
that he was kept in the dark on the Pakistan Army's plan to
occupy strategic heights in the Kargil sector, describing it
as "an absolute lie."
The former military ruler said he had not asked Sharif to
visit the US and meet then President Bill Clinton to bail out
the Pakistan Army.
Musharraf said the Defence Committee of the Cabinet met
two days before Sharif left for the US, and that he had given
Sharif a detailed presentation on the Kargil situation.
Musharraf said Sharif had repeatedly asked him whether
Pakistan should withdraw its forces from Kargil.
"I said I have informed you about the military situation
but the withdrawal of forces is a political decision which has
to be taken by the political leadership," he claimed to have
told Sharif.
He said he was ready to stand trial if a case was filed
against him regarding the killing of Baloch nationalist leader
Akbar Bugti in a military operation or his decision to impose
emergency in November 2007. PTI
Islamabad, June 27 (PTI) Former Pakistan President Pervez
Musharraf has claimed that the Kashmir problem was near
resolution during his regime and dismissed accusations that
the powerful army did not want the settlement of the issue.
Musharraf claimed he and former Indian Prime Minister
Atal Bihari Vajpayee had, during the 2001 Agra summit, even
agreed to the draft of a joint declaration under which all
issues, including Kashmir, could have been resolved.
"But the Indian leadership changed their mind at the last
minute and did not support the joint declaration, saying that
the Cabinet had not approved it," Musharraf said in an
interview to Pakistan's private television channel 'Dunya
News'.
Accusations that the army does not want a resolution to
Kashmir issue are "vicious propaganda" and the need for the
army would remain even if the problem is resolved, he said.
Musharraf said he held talks with all stakeholders in the
Kashmir issue, including the Hurriyat Conference and the
leadership of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, for the resolution of
the issue "but no one could guide me in the right direction."
He also said he had convinced the entire leadership in
Kashmir, except hardliner Ali Shah Gilani, about his
four-point formula which envisaged de-militarisation and joint
control of the region.
Musharraf said Pakistan, India and the Kashmiris must
achieve consensus for a durable and lasting solution to the
Kashmir issue, and all three parties would have to adopt an
approach of give and take to settle the matter.
He again rejected former premier Nawaz Sharif's stand
that he was kept in the dark on the Pakistan Army's plan to
occupy strategic heights in the Kargil sector, describing it
as "an absolute lie."
The former military ruler said he had not asked Sharif to
visit the US and meet then President Bill Clinton to bail out
the Pakistan Army.
Musharraf said the Defence Committee of the Cabinet met
two days before Sharif left for the US, and that he had given
Sharif a detailed presentation on the Kargil situation.
Musharraf said Sharif had repeatedly asked him whether
Pakistan should withdraw its forces from Kargil.
"I said I have informed you about the military situation
but the withdrawal of forces is a political decision which has
to be taken by the political leadership," he claimed to have
told Sharif.
He said he was ready to stand trial if a case was filed
against him regarding the killing of Baloch nationalist leader
Akbar Bugti in a military operation or his decision to impose
emergency in November 2007. PTI
