The Hindu : Front Page : ``Peace process should be made irreversible``

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 01, 2005

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Front Page

``Peace process should be made irreversible``

B. Muralidhar Reddy

Advani, Musharraf agree on need to resolve outstanding issues, including Kashmir

SPECIAL VISIT: BJP president and Opposition Leader L.K.Advani with Pakistan President Gen. Pervez Musharraf in Rawalpindi on Tuesday. — PHOTO: PTI

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and Bharatiya Janata Party leader L.K. Advani on Tuesday asserted that the India-Pakistan peace process should be made "irreversible" and it must be taken to its logical conclusion.

Barring subtle differences on emphasis, there was complete unanimity between them on the need for the two countries marching towards peace and resolution of all outstanding issues including Jammu and Kashmir.

Pakistan-born Mr. Advani, who is on a weeklong visit to the country, had an hour-long meeting with Gen. Musharraf in Rawalpindi and the focus of their interaction was the ongoing peace process. Among others, he met Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri.

Addressing a press conference after his meeting with Gen. Musharraf, the BJP leader said it was the "bold and courageous" commitment on the part of the Pakistan President against terrorism that led to a "real breakthrough" in the relations between the countries.

The reference was to the joint press statement issued after the meeting between Gen. Musharraf and the former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, on the sidelines of the SAARC summit, on January 6, 2004. It said Islamabad was opposed to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and Gen. Musharraf pledged to ensure that Pakistani soil was not used for activities directed against any country.

The focus of Pakistan Television on the Musharraf-Advani meeting was on the General's assertion that the Kashmir "dispute could be resolved with sincerity, flexibility and courage." It quoted him as telling Mr. Advani that parliamentarians of both countries played an important role in the creation of an "enabling environment" for improvement of ties.

Though the General made a reference to Pakistan looking forward to the visit of Hurriyat leaders, beginning June 2, Mr. Advani did not raise the issue of invitation to them to cross into Pakistan from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

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