ISLAMABAD, 6 January 2006 — Pakistan President Gen. Pervez Musharraf yesterday said he hoped India would agree to proposals to demilitarize Kashmir region and allow people self-rule for the divided region.
Musharraf made the comments in a meeting with senior separatist leaders from Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir.
“For any solution to Kashmir to be durable it has to be in accordance with the wishes of Kashmiri people,” Musharraf was reported as saying to the leaders.
Musharraf told leaders from the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), a separatist alliance in Indian Kashmir, that Pakistan will continue moral, political and diplomatic support to Kashmiris to get a “fair settlement” of the Kashmir dispute.
Umar Farooq, chairman of the APHC, an alliance of political and religious groups that support Muslim-majority Kashmir’s independence from India or its merger with Pakistan, said they backed Musharraf’s proposals.
Farooq told reporters after talks with Musharraf that Muslim leaders in Indian Kashmir support Musharraf’s proposals for demilitarization and self-governance in Kashmir because they see a momentum building up on the basis of the suggestions.
He demanded that Pakistan and India formally discuss those suggestions in the next round of talks between their top foreign ministry officials, scheduled for Jan. 17-18 in the Indian capital New Delhi.
On Tuesday the APHC leaders toured Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistani, and offered sympathies and support to survivors of a massive earthquake that struck the region on Oct. 8. About 87,000 people died and 3.5 million were left homeless by the magnitude-6.7 quake.
Pakistan and Japan Agree to Extend Security Dialogue
Pakistan and Japan agreed here yesterday to widen the scope of their bilateral security dialogue, cooperate in their joint efforts against terrorism and discuss disaramament besides cooperating in space technology and peaceful use of nuclear energy.
The two countries inked two agreements after lenghty negotiations between Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri and his visiting Japanese counterpart Taro Aso.
Taro Aso arrived here last night for a day’s official visit.
According to official sources the two foreign ministers discussed the complete range of bilateral relations and regional and international issues.
The global situation including counterterorism, disarament, nonproliferation, cooperation in Asia, situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan-India relations including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir came under discussion.
Kasuri briefed his Japanese counterpart about the composite dialogue process aimed at addressing all outstanding issues including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir.
Kasuri pointed out that Pakistan had initiated the dialogue with sincerity and expressed the hope that a settlement was found to the Kashmir issue which is acceptable to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He said it was essential to resolve the issue of Jammu and Kashmir to ensure durable peace for millions of people in South Asia.
Foreign Minister Kasuri invited Japanese investment in Pakistan and requested for a review of quarantine restrictions on export of agricultural produce including mangoes.
The subject of provision of postgraduat scholarships for Pakistani students, Japanese funds for the completion of Indus Highway, revival of Karachi Circular Railway project and promotion of tourism were also discussed.
Foreign Minister Taro Aso assured during the talks that Japan would look into these issues raised by the foreign minister of Pakistan.
Taro Aso appreciated Pakistan’s role for the regional peace and security. He conveyed his government’s commitment to the utilization of Japamese development assistance offered by Japan in the wake of the earthquake and additional assistance of $55 million, which he announced during yesterday’s talks which totals Japan’s assistance of $200 million.
Kasuri congratulated Japan on its joining SAARC as an observer.
Pakistan and Japan inked two agreements. The first was Emergency Earthquake Recovery Loan and the second Enhancement of Training Capabilities of Construction Machinery Training Institute.
Pakistan is one of the biggest importers of Japanese products.particularly in the automobile sector.
Japan had sent its troops for rescue and relief operations after the Oct. 8 earthquake.
— With input from agencies
