Musharraf's step on Kashmir hailed by nat'l assembly

Mumbai, Dec 7: Pakistan's National Assembly member Zulfiquar Ali Gondal today lauded President Pervez Musharraf for his bold initiative on Kashmir, saying his country was prepared to give up its claim to the trouble-torn state if India agrees to a four-point solution put forward by them.

According to Mr Gondal, the four-point solution entails no change of boundaries but makes the Line of Control irrelevant together with staggered demilitarisation and autonomy with a joint supervision mechanism.

''Personally, I welcome this step though so far my party has not announced its stand officially on the issue'', said Mr Gondal, who was in the city to attend the conference on People's foreign policy, organised by Peace Mumbai.

Mr Gondal, who represents the Pakistan People's party, expressed his views in his speech during the conference.

The two-day conference started today with various political analysts from different countries expressing their views on the subject.

''I am of the opinion that barring a few fundamentalists even former Prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharief will also support this move but they may feel that Mr Musharraf does not have the mandate of the people to do so since he is not elected'', observed Mr Gondal.

''This is a positive step'', said the visiting Pakistani politician. Both the countries are spending lot of money on the purchase of arms and nuclear programme and if peace prevails the same money could be diverted for the welfare of people of Kashmir'', Mr Gondal said hoping that the more than half century-old conflict is resolved.

''The common people of India and Pakistan want to co-exist and live together in peace'', he said.

Ranjan Bhattrai, secretary, department of international relations Communist party of Nepal, while addressing the conference, said ''much goodwill has been generated about India in Nepal after India took a stand of condemning King Gyanendra in 2005.''.

He agreed that India and Nepal, being neighbouring countries, had their own differences including sharing of water and other issues but said these issues could be amicably settled across the table.

UNI

Related Stories
Musharraf scared of Indian economy, forces: Geelani