ISLAMABAD, 5 February 2005 — Pakistan President Gen. Pervez Musharraf yesterday called for a negotiated settlement of Kashmir issue, saying that dialogue process with India is aimed at finding a peaceful solution to the dispute.
“Pakistan believes that a just and lasting solution to Kashmir dispute can only be found through a process of dialogue and engagement,” President Musharraf said in a message on Kashmir Solidarity Day to be observed in the country, Kashmir and around the world today.
“It is with this resolve and purpose in mind that we embarked on composite dialogue process with India last year,” the President stated. “Our effort was and continues to be, to engage in a meaningful and result-oriented dialogue to seek a peaceful, negotiated, and final settlement to the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.” General Musharraf said Pakistan believes that people of Jammu and Kashmir are the principal party to the dispute and must, therefore, be principle beneficiaries of Pakistan and India dialogue process.
“For the reason we have reiterated, time and again, our demand that Kashmiri people be associated with the composite dialogue process.” He stressed that any viable and final settlement of Kashmir dispute must reflect the wishes and aspirations of people of Kashmir. “It is our belief that there is a need to create an enabling environment for peace process.
In this regard violence, repression and grave human rights violations being perpetrated by the occupation forces in India held Jammu and Kashmir must stop,” President Musharraf added. He reassured Kashmiris that at this critical juncture of history, they have full moral diplomatic and political support of the government and people of Pakistan. “Their goals are our goals.’’
Meanwhile Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said that the economic conditions in Pakistan have improved and Pakistan is enjoying a better status in the international community.
He was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of a new laboratory of the International Centre for Chemical Sciences at Karachi University here yesterday. “People are getting more and more facilities and the web of the middle-class is increasing”, Aziz said.
He added that the country would achieve the development target of 7 percent by this year. Chairman Higher Education Commission Dr. Atta ur-Rehman, Vice Chancellor Karachi University Dr. Pirzada Qasim, Present Director HEJ Iqbal Chaudhry, Governor Sindh Dr.Ishrat ul-Ibad Khan and Nadira Panjwani were also present.
