Sunday, Nov 21, 2004
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By B Muralidhar Reddy
LAHORE, NOV. 20. The Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, asserted here today that Islamabad will not give up its "maximalist position" on plebiscite and implementation of the United Nations resolutions on Kashmir unless New Delhi met it halfway. The General, who was inaugurating the fourth conference of the South Asian Free Media Association on "Media and reconciliation in South Asia" here, left no one in doubt about his unhappiness with the recent statements by India. In his address and subsequent interaction with Indian journalists who would be visiting Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Gen. Musharraf identified three distinct elements in what he termed India's "maximalist" position. These are, Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India, any solution to the Kashmir problem will have to be within the parameters of the Indian Constitution and there could be no re-drawing of the borders. Gen. Musharraf appeared to suggest that India would have to move away from its "maximalist" position if it expected Pakistan to be flexible. If India is not willing to give up its stated position on Kashmir, Pakistan has little option but to stick to its "maximalist position." Islamabad's "maximalist" position was holding a plebiscite and implementation of the 1948 U.N. proposals on the right to self-determination for Kashmiris. "We have the courage to go for a solution. Let both sides show that courage," Gen. Musharraf said. "We would like to meet India halfway. We will not move all the way. India must also move halfway. We will leave our maximalist position if India does." Claiming that he was not "unifocal," the President insisted that Kashmir was the "core" issue between India and Pakistan and that there could be no reconciliation in South Asia without resolving this issue. "Any one who thinks this is not realistic is not being realistic," he said.
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