Mixed Indian reaction to Musharraf's resignation

New Delhi, Aug 19 : People residing in Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's ancestral home in Delhi are saying that he should have faced impeachment rather than stepping down.

"We are sad for him that he has resigned. Perhaps, it would have been better if he had faced impeachment and then stepped down if the public wished that," said Rajiv Jain, a resident of the city.

Some others felt that his decision was wise.

"It's better that he has resigned, otherwise he would have faced impeachment," said Narender Kumar Jain, another resident.

A Jama Masjid cleric said that ties between the two nations were more important rather than the fate of individual leaders.

"Whether it is Musharraf or present coalition government in Pakistan, we hope that both the Indian and Pakistan Governments should work with good intentions to establish better relations between the two nations," said Syed Tariq Bukhari, General Secretary of the Jama Masjid Delhi Consultative Council.

Meanwhile, the Indian Government refrained from making any comment on the resignation of Musharraf, and simply termed it as an "internal matter" of that country.

India has had a comfortable working relationship with Musharraf, despite the military tinge attached to the regime in Islamabad.

New Delhi has expressed satisfaction over its engagement with the Musharraf dispensation.

Among the significant developments during Musharraf's tenure were the border ceasefire in November 2003 and launch of the peace process and Composite Dialogue between the two countries in January 2004.

Under the peace process and composite dialogue process, a number of confidence building measures and other initiatives were undertaken successfully to improve ties.

ANI