Pak rejects Musharraf's Kashmir formula

Islamabad, Jul 1: Pakistan has rejected former President Pervez Musharraf's four-point formula to resolve the Kashmir issue, saying it was "his thinking," which did not get the sanction of Parliament or cabinet and suggested a fresh approach to address the much discussed problem, Kashmir.

The formula of Musharaf was- softening of Line of Control (LoC), self-governance, phased withdrawal of troops from entire Jammu and Kashmir and joint supervision by India and Pakistan.

Foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who will be meeting external affairs minister S M Krishna on Jul 15, said the two countries should build on progress made in any area and look at ways to make progress where it has not been done.

"Any issue, whether it is Kashmir, Siachen, Sir Creek, water, any issue where progress can be made, should be made. Where it hasn't been made, we should look at ways and means how to make progress," said Qureshi.

"Where progress has been made, let us build on it further," added Qureshi.

"The four-point formula that General Musharraf made then was his thinking. It was being done through quiet back-channel diplomacy," Qureshi said on the formula generated by Musharraf in Dec 2006 to resolve the Kashmir issue.

"We are a democracy, Parliament has to own them, Parliament has to endorse them, Cabinet has to discuss them," said the foreign minister.

OneIndia News