The Hindu : International / India & World : `Dialogue only way to resolve Kashmir row'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 05, 2005

International

International - India & World

`Dialogue only way to resolve Kashmir row'

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, FEB. 4. The Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, has said that dialogue was the only way to resolve the Kashmir dispute and commitment to the process was the rationale behind the composite dialogue Islamabad was holding with New Delhi.

In his message on the eve of the "Kashmir Solidarity Day," observed every year by Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) since 1990, Gen. Musharraf recalled the 1948 United Nations Resolutions promising plebiscite to Kashmiris to decide whether they wanted to be part of India or Pakistan.

Calling for the involvement of Kashmiris in the dialogue process, he said any "viable and final settlement of the Kashmir dispute" should reflect the wishes of the people of Kashmir.

All government and non-government institutions will be closed throughout the country on February 5, a declared holiday. Government-sponsored rallies and demonstrations will be held in different parts of the country in "solidarity" with the Kashmiris.

`Moral support'

The Pakistan Prime Minister, Shaukat Aziz, will address the joint session of the PoK Legislative Assembly and Senate in the morning and reiterate Islamabad's "moral, diplomatic and political" support to the "struggle of [the] Kashmiris for their right to self-determination."

Reiterating Pakistan's support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, Gen. Musharraf said: "Pakistan believes that a just and lasting solution to the Kashmir dispute can only be found through a process of dialogue and engagement. It is with this resolve and purpose in mind that we embarked on the composite dialogue process with India last year."

Gen. Musharraf said: "Our effort was and continues to be to engage in a meaningful and result- oriented dialogue to seek a peaceful, negotiated and final settlement to the Jammu and Kashmir dispute."

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`Dialogue only way to resolve Kashmir row'