ISLAMABAD, 24 April 2005 — Pakistan’s Minister of Information and Broadcasting Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, said yesterday Kashmir issue might take two-three years to be resolved, although India and Pakistan now looked inching toward the resolution of this issue.

“Talks are under way on a time frame with regard to an amicable solution to the problem...and it may be resolved in two to three years,” he said while addressing a press conference.

Sheikh Rashid, who accompanied President Pervez Musharraf on an Indian tour last week, said: “President Musharraf’s Indian tour was highly successful wherein the president managed to hold meetings with the Kashmiri leadership.”

He said: “Pakistan is strictly adhering to the UN resolution on the Kashmir issue. However, we are ready to display flexibility if India does so.”

He asked the opposition not to term Musharraf’s Indian tour a failure. “Just wait and you will know the outcome of the historic visit.”

About options on Kashmir, Sheikh Rashid said Pakistan has not given up its principled stand on Kashmir, “but if India is sincere and willing to solve the issue, we are ready to go ahead”.

Dispelling the impression that Musharraf had proposed a formula in this regard, he clarified that it was simply his desire that there should be open discussions and debates to bring to light likely solutions to the issue.

“Pakistan wants to open a new chapter in its ties with India,” he said.

Sheikh Rashid added that Musharraf’s visit to Delhi will pave the way for better relations between the two countries.

“If India is sincere in maintaining good relations with Pakistan, it should hold composite dialogues and take advantage of the bold offer and farsighted approach of the president,” he added.

The minister said it was important for both the countries to show flexibility on their respective stands on Kashmir, otherwise it would become impossible to resolve the dispute that has already created mistrust between the two countries.

The minister said Pakistan was ready to hold talks with Kashmiri leaders and would welcome delegates from the All-Parties Hurriyat Conference to Pakistan for discussions.

Sheikh Rashid stressed the Kashmir issue needs to be addressed for normalization of Pakistan-India relations.

The information minister was giving a briefing here Thursday to the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML) and its coalition partners on Musharraf’s visit.

Rashid said Musharraf had presented the Kashmir issue before the Indian leadership in an effective manner, making it clear that the issue could not be put on the backburner.

The president had also urged both factions of the Hurriyat Conference to unite and bury their differences.

Confidence building measures (CBMs) like the trans border Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service and bilateral trade will meet with failure if the Kashmir problem is not sorted out. The CBMs and composite dialogue process should go in tandem, he said.

Musharraf Wants Kashmir’s Division

Musharraf wants Kashmir to be divided into seven parts. In an interview to an American TV channel, Musharraf said: “The parts of Kashmir held by Pakistan and India separately can be divided geographically into seven parts.”

“Either any specific portion of the Kashmir or its entire area could be declared non-military zone and later changing it status afterward”, he added.

He further said that whatever the portion is for this purpose, but it must be made with consensus between India and Pakistan and he hoped masses of both the countries could accept it.

He said, “Deployment of heavy troops on both side of line of control (LoC) is creating problem for the people”.