ISLAMABAD, 7 January 2006 — Leaders of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference discussed various issues related to the resolution of Kashmir row at a lunch hosted by APHC’s Pakistan chapter yesterday. The APHC leaders from India visiting Pakistan had meetings on Thursday with President Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and the President of Pakistan Muslim League Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain in Islamabad.
The luncheon meeting yesterday was also attended by Azad Kashmir President Maj. Gen. (retd) Mohammad Anwar Khan.
APHC leaders Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Abdul Ghani Bhat, Bilal Lone and others are on a visit to Pakistan.
Kashmiri leaders from both sides are discussing President Pervez Musharraf’s proposal on demilitarization of Kashmir and self-governance for Kashmiris as a prelude to a permanent settlement of the Kashmir issue.
“The interaction between the Kashmiri leaders from both sides is a positive step and will promote efforts for peace in the region,” said Wasi, press secretary to Prime Minister Sardar Sikandar Hayat.
President Musharraf told Kashmiri leaders during the meeting on Thursday that he hoped India would respond positively to Pakistan’s proposal to demilitarize the disputed Himalayan region and grant it self-governance.
“For any solution to Kashmir to be durable it has to be in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people,” Musharraf was quoted as saying by the Associated Press of Pakistan.
Musharraf said Pakistan and India had moved forward on confidence-building measures since starting a peace process two years ago, but needed solid progress on conflict resolution. Pakistan wants to inject more urgency into the peace process, particularly regarding the Kashmir dispute.
