PM takes note of Musharraf's 4-point formula

On Board Air India One, Dec 16: Taking note of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's recent four-point formula to resolve the Kashmir issue, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said India welcomed any new ideas to normalise relations between the two countries.

"As far as Gen Musharraf's four-point formula is concerned, I welcome the efforts that whoever talks about can put in to normalise relations between India and Pakistan," he told reporters who accompanied him on his way back home from a four-day visit to Japan.

''If anytime new ideas come, we welcome them and I would like to say that in the last two-and-a-half years, we have had a very intensive dialogue with Pakistan,'' he said.

Gen Musharraf's recently-offered formula envisages a Kashmir with the same borders but allowing free movement of people in the region, self-governance or autonomy, but not independence, withdrawal of troops in a staggered manner and a joint supervision mechanism with representation of India, Pakistan and Kashmir, to be set up.

''I have always believed that the destiny of South Asia is linked and, therefore, I give priority to normalising our relations with Pakistan and solving all outstanding issues between our two countries and that also includes the issue of Jammu and Kashmir,''he said.

To another question, Dr Singh said he did not discuss Pakistan's nuclear programme in detail during his summit meeting with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe in Tokyo yesterday.

"I used the time at my disposal to familiarise the Prime Minister with our pressing concerns. But, in a general way, there was a mention of the two countries working together to prevent unauthorised proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. But not specificallly with respect to any one country," he said.

Asked about when he planned to visit Pakistan, Dr Singh merely said, "I have an invitation from the President of Pakistan, which I have accepted." The Prime Minister has repeatedly said that he would visit Pakistan only when there was a possibility of a substantial outcome.

UNI

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