Musharraf sees ‘positivity’ on Kashmir

By IANS

Islamabad : Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said he sees "positivity" in both Pakistan and India towards resolution of the Kashmir dispute.


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Musharraf, who was speaking at a seminar in Islamabad Monday, however, refrained from giving any time-line for the process, Pakistan's official news agency APP said.

"Sincerity appears to be there…willingness appears to be there. We hope that we can resolve the dispute as it is at the core of improvement of our relations," Musharraf told a large gathering at a lecture on "Peace and Security in South and West Asia".

Musharraf said he saw Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as a sincere person who believed in peace. The people of the two countries also desired peace, added Musharraf.

Musharraf recalled his suggestion of de-militarisation, self-governance and joint management and said a resolution of the Kashmir issue can be sought under these broad parameters.

"If anyone of the two conflicting parties are not prepared to step back no resolution can be sought," President Musharraf said.

The president said he believed that "courage needed to reconcile and compromise is far greater than courage needed to fight and confront."

Musharraf said both the people and leadership of the two countries have now realised that confrontation is no more an option and Pakistan and India should move for a political resolution of the Kashmir dispute.

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