Pandits oppose concessions to Pak on Kashmir

New Delhi, May 8 (UNI) The People's Initiative for National Security (PINS), an organisation of Kashmiri Pandits, today criticised the government for reportedly trying to provide concessions to Pakistan on Kashmir in the name of improving Indo-Pak relations and called for rejecting various proposals given by President Pervez Musharraf.

Strongly reacting to reports that both countries were ''close'' to a solution on Kashmir, PINS leaders A K Kaul and Sunil Shakdher said in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that any concession on Kashmir would be a precursor to weakening of national security.

The give in on Kashmir would kick off a process wherein more and more such demands and proposals would be forthcoming, they said referring to the proposals of joint control and de-militarisation by President Musharraf.

''Any solution visualised for Kashmir in the present context is going to weaken India's hold on Kashmir...'' they said in the letter.

It said Gen. Musharraf was facing the odium of re-election as President, giving up military uniform and general elections and was, therefore, engaged in multi-dimensional strategy to safeguard his position.

''He is, therefoere, keen to get concessions on Kashmir which he can sell to his people and India seems to oblige,'' the Kashmiri leaders said while accusing leaderships in both countries of pursuing short-term gains.

UNI