The Hindu : Front Page : Musharraf for `reasonable' timeframe

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jul 24, 2004

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Front Page

Musharraf for `reasonable' timeframe

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, JULY 23 . Striking a tough posture, the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, today told the External Affairs Minister, K. Natwar Singh, about the need for a final settlement of the Kashmir issue within a "reasonable" timeframe and "simultaneous" progress on all subjects, including the "central issue" of Kashmir.

According to a press statement by the Pakistan Foreign Office, Gen. Musharraf conveyed to Mr. Singh during his 90-minute interaction at the Army House in Rawalpindi that it was important to provide "comfort" to the Kashmiris as they had the highest stake in the success of the process.

Surprisingly, none of these elements was reflected in the three-and-a-half page "departure statement" Mr. Singh read out at the end of his five-day visit to Pakistan essentially in connection with the SAARC Council of Ministers conference.

Only common point

The only common point in the statements of Mr. Singh and the Pakistan Foreign Office is the commitment made during the interaction on making the composite dialogue process a success. Mr. Singh repeated the Manmohan Singh Government's commitment to the dialogue process.

According to the Pakistan Foreign Office, Gen. Musharraf's comments were in the context of the commitment to making the composite dialogue process a success. "In this context, the President emphasised the need for `simultaneous' progress on all issues and most notably on the central issue of Jammu and Kashmir. It was important to address this issue with sincerity with a view to reaching a final settlement that accorded fully with the legitimate aspirations of the Kashmiris within a `reasonable' timeframe," it said.

`Steady dialogue needed'

Mr. Singh said he spoke to Gen. Musharraf about India's intention to carry on a "sustained and steady dialogue" with Pakistan and reviewed several significant aspects of our relations. "Both sides reiterated the importance of continuing the dialogue process in an atmosphere free of violence, and of tackling the scourge of terrorism with renewed vigour," he said.

Mr. Singh said no aspect of bilateral relationship, including Jammu and Kashmir, was left out of the "warm, frank and realistic discussions."

"I leave Pakistan with renewed determination to work with Pakistan, bilaterally, to normalise our relations and to resolve differences while building on our many commonalties," he said.

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