MUZZAFFARABAD/ISLAMABAD, 6 February 2006 — President Gen. Pervez Musharraf addressed a huge public meeting at Neelum Stadium of Muzzaffarabad yesterday to mark Kashmir’s Solidarity Day.
“I proposed to the leadership of India that let us demilitarize Kashmir and provide the right of self-governance to the people of Kashmir eight months ago. I am still waiting for its formal reply. I feel happy and pay rich tributes to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who on Feb. 2 stated that the dispute of Kashmir has to be addressed. It’s a good gesture from Indian leadership.”
He said Pakistan took various initiatives that were accepted by India, such as the opening of five crossing points on the Line of Control, inter-Kashmir traveling of Kashmiri leaders from the two sides.
“I proposed to the Indian leadership that we start truck service between the two sides of Kashmir so that the traders of Kashmir will open trade through five crossing points and the economies of the area will flourish,” said the president.
Attired in his Special Services Group uniform, Musharraf said he also proposed to India that it withdraw its troops from Baramula, Srinagar and Kupwara. He added that the Indian government does not need any constitutional amendment for this proposal, only an executive order.
He said we have not deviated from our principle stand that is the people of Kashmir must get their right of self-determination.
President Musharraf floated the proposal of demilitarization of Kashmir and grant of self-governance during his exclusive interview with Khaled Almaeena, the editor in chief of Arab News, during last Ramadan. India virtually but not quite rejected the plan, citing their concerns over the autonomy of Pakistani-administered Kashimir.
“No proposal of the so-called self-governance was provided to which a response was expected,” India’s External Affairs Ministry spokesman Natvej Singh Sarna told reporters in November.
During the World Economic Forum in Davos last week, Musharraf announced again his desire to see India and Pakistan work together toward eventual Kashmiri self-governance that would make “the Line of Control irrelevant”. But, he added, Pakistan would not pull back unilaterally from the region. While Musharraf referred yesterday to the positive response from the Indian leadership, he also appreciated the role of world community and world leaders for their desire for an early settlement of Kashmir issue.
Musharraf said this time the Kashmir Solidarity Day has been observed in a unique manner.
He paid rich tributes to the Pakistan Army for facing the challenge of relief efforts following the Oct. 8 earthquake that killed tens of thousands and left even more survivors exposed to the harsh winter climate.
“During my last visit to Davos, leaders and media representatives asked me how we overcame the situation,” said Musharraf in his speech yesterday.
“My answer was: through the determination of the people of Pakistan and Kashmir, the Pakistan Army’s relentless effort, and tremendous service provided to Pakistan by NATO forces.”
He said while the opposition parties were critical of the presence of NATO troops, they did excellent work in rescue and relief operation work.
“Opposition leaders said NATO has come to Pakistan to malign my government,” said Musharraf. “My answer is that 1,000 men of NATO will not take over Pakistan. In strong words I pay tribute to NATO soldiers who even spent their Christmas and New Year’s in these hills.”
Pakistani Traders Protest Cartoons
Pakistani traders burned the flags of Denmark, France and Germany yesterday to protest the publication of cartoons depicting Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in several European newspapers.
Hundreds of traders in the central city of Multan set fire to the flags and an effigy of Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, demanding that Denmark punish those responsible. “We demand severe punishment for the cartoonist and the publishers,” Pakistan Trade Alliance leader Khawaja Mohammad Shafiq told the gathering.
The drawings were first published in September 2005 by the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten and have since reappeared in a number of European publications.
The 12 caricatures have sparked widespread protests in the Muslim world.
Islam forbids the production of any image of the Prophet and considers any such depiction as a form of blasphemy.
The Pakistani government on Saturday summoned ambassadors from Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Holland, Hungary, Norway and the Czech Republic to convey its protest.
“We ask the European governments to ensure against recurrence of such despicable acts,” the Foreign Ministry said.
