ISLAMABAD, 6 February 2005 — Pakistan’s President Gen. Pervez Musharraf assured residents of Kashmir yesterday that he would not compromise his stance on the Himalayan territory during peace talks with nuclear-armed archrival India.
Musharraf has come under criticism at home in recent months for suggesting that the two neighbors show flexibility in their dispute over Kashmir, which is divided between them but claimed by both in its entirety.
Musharraf’s comments, read out by Sardar Siab Khalid, speaker of the legislature of the Pakistani-administered zone of Kashmir, at a gathering to observe Kashmir Solidarity Day, were clearly aimed at his domestic audience and pro-Pakistan residents in India’s portion of Kashmir. It was not clear whether the comments reflected any hardening of Islamabad’s stance with respect to negotiations with New Delhi.
Kashmir was divided between India and Pakistan after they gained independence from Britain in 1947. Since then, they have fought two out of their three wars over Kashmir.
Militant groups who want New Delhi’s portion of Kashmir independent from India, or merged with Pakistan, have been fighting against troops there since 1989.
Musharraf was scheduled to address Kashmiri lawmakers in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan’s part of Kashmir, but was held up by bad weather.
In his message, he said Pakistan would continue to extend “moral, diplomatic and political” support to Kashmiris in their efforts to gain self-determination.
“We are holding talks with India. ... but I assure you that we will never compromise on the issue of Kashmir,” Musharraf said.
Musharraf also asked India to ensure that Kashmiris are consulted as part of the talks with Pakistan. “We will only accept that solution to the issue of Kashmir which will be acceptable to Kashmiris.”
Musharraf warned that peace in South Asia would not be possible if Kashmiris were denied a chance to decide their future.
“Establishment of peace in the region is not possible nor can the confidence-building measures proceed unless the Kashmir issue is resolved in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of the Kashmiris,” he said.
Rallies were held in Muzaffarabad and elsewhere in Pakistan expressing solidarity with the people of Kashmir fighting Indian rule in the Himalayan state.
Musharraf said Pakistan would not accept any solution which was not in line with the wishes of Kashmiris. “The government of Pakistan has made its position very clear to the Indian leadership and world leaders.”
He also assured the Kashmiris that “the whole Pakistani nation was with them in their struggle for freedom and they would always enjoy the moral, political and diplomatic support of Pakistan.”
“It is the basic right of the Kashmiris to decide their future on their own. I want to make it clear that Kashmir cause is our vital national interest and we cannot think of compromising it,” Musharraf said.
The president paid tribute to “more than 80,000 martyrs who had laid down their lives in Indian-held Kashmir during the ongoing freedom struggle.”
“The blood of martyrs will not go in vain. These sacrifices will soon bear fruit and Kashmiris will achieve their basic rights.
“I am sure at long last the Kashmiris will get peace and freedom,” he added.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz told reporters here, that he would continue highlighting the Kashmir issue at an international level. “We will continue highlighting it until this core issue is solved according to the wishes of Kashmiri people,” he said.
