ISLAMABAD, 12 July — Pakistan’s military ruler, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, yesterday ruled out any compromise on Islamabad’s stand on Kashmir in his forthcoming summit with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.
“There will be no compromise on Pakistan’s principled position that Kashmir issue should be resolved according to the aspirations and wishes of the Kashmiri people,” state-run television quoted him as telling the National Security Council, the top decision-making body in the military-ruled nation.
He said he was going with all “seriousness” to India to initiate a dialogue process leading to the settlement of the dispute that has caused two of the three wars and a border conflict between the nuclear-capable states since their independence in 1947.
“It is not only my hope but of the entire Pakistan nation and I think of the Indian nation as well that this issue should be resolved,” he said.
Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, yesterday received a telephone call from Musharraf. According to the Saudi Press Agency, the two leaders discussed bilateral relations and issues of mutual concern at Islamic and global levels.
Key policymakers advised Musharraf to take up other bilateral issues with India only after New Delhi agrees to discuss Kashmir. During a three-hour meeting, members of the National Security Council gave their approval to Musharraf’s game plan of going to New Delhi with an open mind.
The general had vowed to remain flexible in his approach toward the Kashmir issue. But NSC members convinced him of the need to hold back on other issues until progress is made on Kashmir.
The president acknowledged that the summit could not work out a solution to the five decade-old problem. Any progress on Kashmir would lead to a series of follow-up meetings.
Musharraf will meet with Vajpayee at the July 14-16 summit in the Indian city of Agra aiming to address the long-running dispute. The NSC members warned against expecting too much out of the summit. They, however, said that initiation of dialogue between the two countries on Kashmir should be regarded as a step forward.
In New Delhi, a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said India is willing to discuss all contentious subjects, including Kashmir, during the talks.
Spokeswoman Nirupama Rao said foreign ministers from both sides could also hold talks on the sidelines of the summit, and added that New Delhi hoped to resolve its long-standing disputes with Islamabad at the leadership dialogue, the first since February 1999.
“The prime minister’s invitation (to Musharraf) amply outlines India’s desire to address the core concerns of people of both countries and we will address all the issues, which will include Kashmir,” Ms. Rao said.
She said India had already sent Pakistan Vajpayee’s suggestions for setting up an experts’ groups on the nuclear issue.
