ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, has said that only the "top leadership" of India and Pakistan could resolve a complicated issue like Kashmir and has given a distinct impression that he is not happy with the attitude of Hurriyat factions towards India-Pakistan dialogue.

"This [Kashmir] is so complicated, even if three persons sit down, they can never agree. It is the top leadership which needs to sit down and think of broadly what kind of solution is possible between India, Pakistan and people of Kashmir," he told Pakistani journalists in New Delhi covering his visit.

"At this moment the leadership, which means frankly myself and [the] Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, are sincere in our desire, flexible enough and may be bold enough to move forward. I am optimistic," Gen. Musharraf said.

Excerpts of his interaction with Pakistani journalists were telecast by the State-run Pakistan Television.

Three-phased approach

Gen. Musharraf advocated a three-phased approach for the resolution of the Kashmir issue. The first stage is to broadly ascertain the will of Kashmiris that can never be ignored, to set a broad direction. Phase two, he said, is to develop a consensus through debate and discussion, while phase three is to take the decision. He was critical of the opposition to the Srinagar-Muzafarabad bus service by the hardline Hurriyat leader, Syed Ali Geelani, and the militant groups.

Gen. Musharraf said that in his interaction with Hurriyat leaders he told them that India's invitation to them for talks could also be considered as a first step for their inclusion in trilateral dialogue.

Asserting that the bus service was agreed to after gauging the popular demand, Gen. Musharraf said he has not understood the logic behind the opposition to the bus.

`Begin talks'

To a question about the demand of Kashmiri groups for inclusion in the dialogue process, Gen. Musharraf said that they should use their akal (head) and join the talks with India and Pakistan separately.

"One side [India] is not accepting [trilateral talks]. We have no option but to talk. Let us talk. Begin talks. I left no doubt that without their [Kashmiris] wishes there cannot be a solution. We have to include them in talks sometime or the other," he said.

Ultimately, efforts should be made to withdraw the Army and make life better for the Kashmiris, he said.

"We should look for a solution to redress the problems of the people. Those who are against it, they take an extreme view saying that it should wait till solution.

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