SRINAGAR, India, 3 March 2008 — Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari’s statement on Kashmir has evoked anger and dismay among Kashmiri separatist leaders here.

In an interview with Indian TV channel CNN-IBN, Zardari on Saturday said: “The Kashmir issue should be set aside to focus on other aspects for improving relations with India.”

“The idea is that we feel for Kashmir. The PPP has always felt for Kashmir. We have a strong Kashmir policy. We have always had one,” he said.

“But having said that, we don’t want to be hostage to that situation. That is a situation we can agree to disagree (on). Countries do, we have positions, you have positions. We can agree to disagree on everything,” Zardari said in the interview.

Reacting to Zardari’s statement, Abdul Gani Bhat, chief spokesman of the moderate All Parties Hurriyat Conference told this correspondent: “The dispute constitutes a potential threat to nuclear peace in the South Asian region. Therefore, the dispute has to be addressed in the larger interest of peace, security and the stability in the region as a whole.

“We cannot wish it away. This has to be resolved. The dispute has to go. We cannot afford to live with tension for all times to come.”

Bhat said: “Zardari or any other person has to bear in mind that the survival of the region is inescapably linked with the resolution of the Kashmir problem.”

“Zardari has totally strayed away from the traditional Pakistani stand on Kashmir. It shows his political immaturity. He wants to appease India,” said Nazir Ahmad Ronga, president of the Kashmir Bar Association.

Reacting to Zardari’s statement, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik said: “Nobody can overlook the sacrifices made by the people of Kashmir and the problem has to be resolved in line with people’s aspirations.”

Malik said he favored India-Pakistan friendship but the “same should not be achieved by suppressing of the rights of the Kashmiri People.”

“We should not react in haste unless we find out the context in which Zardari sahib made his assertions,” said Shabir Shah, chairman of the Democratic Freedom Party.

Shah also said that the official stand of the new coalition government in Pakistan on Kashmir would be known only after they assume power.