Institutionalised arrangement in Kashmir a step forward:Musharraf

New Delhi, Aug 17 (UNI) Describing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's suggestion for institutionalised arrangements to bring people from both sides of Kashmir closer as a ''step forward'', Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said this could be the ''starter'' of a process for ''joint management'' of the region.

''However, this institutionalising the arrangement, needs discussion and thought,'' he said in an interview to Mr A G Noorani in Frontline magazine.

''Yes, I think that is a starter. This is a very good term,'' he said The joint mechanism can be discussed by representatives from the two countries and who would oversee the management and also look into the residual aspects like foreign affairs, currency etc., Gen Musharraf said.

Dr Singh made the remarks at the Kashmir roundtable in Srinagar in May.

The Pakistan President also called for a ''Joint Framework for Self-governance'' as autonomy, according to him, creates negative politics, when asked about Kashmiri people electing negotiators.

He also said that there was a ''lack of consensus'' in India over the resolution of the Kashmir issue. ''It needs the resolve of the leadership; resolve of the people, especially the government and the political parties...Consensus for the solution appears difficult on the Indian side,'' Gen Musharraf said.

Clarifying his ''demilitarisation'' concept, the Pakistan resident said he had not called for removing all the military at once but that should be done in ''steps'' and projection of some cities as ''peace zones''.

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