Hameed Shaheen
ISLAMABAD: Former President of Pakistan Gen (Rtd) Pervez Musharraf has claimed forcefully that from among three most plaguing South Asian disputes, Sir Creek and Siachin could be solved even "tomorrow", reiterating that he and Indian premier Dr Manmohan Singh were not much away from reaching a negotiated settlement on Kashmir.
Musharraf made this bold statement during the course of his strategic lecture in the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London Thursday night. On Wednesday the former President of Pakistan had disclosed that "he and Dr Manmohan Singh had agreed on according independence to both parts of Jammu and Kashmir" as a solution.
Elaborating the 'near-solution' to Kashmir dispute, he asserted that the 4-point rafter of his Kashmir proposals was the basis.
The well known Musharraf Kashmir package of proposals is (1) identification of regions in Jammu and Kashmir, (2) demilitarization of identified regions, (3) introduction of self-governance in those regions, and (4) joint mechanism he had announced in the year 2007. Publicly India had not favorably responded to this proposals rafter, but had started allowing occupied Kashmir leaders to travel beyond India to participate in open international Kashmir conferences held in different capitals of European/North American countries.
However the "formula" had received tacit global diplomatic backing at that time. Inside Jammu and Kashmir, majority of Kashmiris on both sides of the divide too had, through open media debates, lent support these proposals as a "way out" and "way forward". In fact Kashmiris as principal party had offered in those days to be the 'ambassadors of peace' in South Asia between Pakistan and India - parties to the six decade old dispute of Kashmir characterized by three wars: 1947-48, 1965 and in 1999-partial war.
The dynamics of today's Kashmir are now quite different from those days when it emerged as a dispute in 1947. Geo-physically Kashmir of today is surrounded by three nuclear powers face-to-face. In fact the dispute in its current contours is hanging a nuclear hell in South Asia.
"We were not far from resolving Kashmir problem with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the basis of a four-point parametres which would demilitarise Kashmir and make the line of control irrelevant," reports quote ex-President Musharraf whose remarks came in a House of Lords function arranged by Lord Iltaf Sheikh, a Pakistani-origin Conservative-peer.
Musharraf in these days is giving strategic lectures and ventilating his insight on South Asian scenario having continental and global impact. On the ticklish Kashmir issue Mr Tariq, his Principal Secretary was the pointsman and privy to the Musharraf-Singh Kashmir talks.
Reports quote Musharraf paying compliments to India's Prime Minister for "his vision, flexibility and his sincerity" shown in bilateral talks. "Siachin and Sir Creek can be solved "tomorrow", Musharraf claimed boldly saying, "We have had umpteen number of discussions on them but it needs leadership decision".
He recalled that the survey of Sir Creek area had been done by the two navies 'in my time but' it needs a leadership decision to 'sign and agree to'.
Musharraf admitted that except for a brief period "relationship between India and Pakistan have almost always been tense, confrontational and conspiracy-oriented."
Agencies quoting the former Pakistan President attribute these remarks to him: "The element of Kashmiri Mujahedeen is very much important in this scenario. Kashmir freedom struggle erupted in 1989. It has been going on for the last twenty years. And in this there were a dozen Mujahedeen groups which erupted in Pakistan, which created great public support for Mujahedeen groups in Kashmir and it continues even now because the issue remains unresolved,".
"The Muslim extremism in India, I must quote, is spreading very strongly in the youth because of their sense of alienation, a sense on unequal to equal to the Muslims therefore they are frustrated. Having said all of this about Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kashmir and India the complexity increases, because there is a linkage in all of this," the former president said.
"Kashmir is the core issue and without resolution of this imbroglio amicably, India and Pakistan can't enjoy cordial and normal relations as neighbours. UN resolutions to this effect are intact and effective unless both the parties abandon them and seek a new dimension," Musharraf said.
Posted on 26 Feb 2010 by
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