The Hindu : International / India & World : Pakistan not happy with Indian response to proposals

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 11, 2004

International

International - India & World

Pakistan not happy with Indian response to proposals

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

I SLAMABAD NOV. 10. Pakistan said today that India had not responded with "an open heart" to the President, Pervez Musharraf's recent formulation to resolve the Kashmir issue. It claimed that Gen. Musharraf had showed "substantial flexibility" by offering the proposals.

"Unfortunately, the Indian response is muted and it has not responded to the opinions with an open heart," the Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman, Masood Khan, told state-run PTV.

In his recent comments presented as "food-for-thought," Gen. Musharraf had sought a debate on consideration of Jammu and Kashmir as seven "regions," their identification, demilitarisation and change in status. He had assured the people of Pakistan's firm stance relating to the U.N. resolutions, the aspirations of Kashmiris and the country's participation in the ongoing dialogue process with "open eyes."

Gen. Musharraf had made a bold statement on the Kashmir issue and called for a new approach, the spokesman said.

Pakistan condemned the assassination attempt on Altaf Ahmad Shah, son-in-law of Syed Ali Shah Geelani. The "spiral of violence in Kashmir should be reversed," a Foreign Office spokesman said.

The Indian Government had a special responsibility to provide security to Kashmiri leaders, their relatives and associates, he said. Pakistan has sent a message of sympathy to Syed Ali Shah Geelani and other members of the family, with best wishes and prayers for quick recovery of Altaf Ahmad Shah, he added.

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