The Hindu : National : Respond to Musharraf positively, says Omar

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Sep 25, 2005

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National

Respond to Musharraf positively, says Omar

Shujaat Bukhari

"India should set aside Parliamentary resolution of 1995"

Omar Abdullah

SRINAGAR: : The season of people-to-people contact across the Line of Control is yet to be over. On Friday, a delegation from Pakistan arrived here to take part in the deliberations under the banner of the Young President's Organisation.

National Conference president Omar Abdullah, MP, played host to the 110-member joint business delegation. Forty of the members were from Pakistan. The delegation has no plans to meet the separatist leaders during its four-day visit. It will visit Gulmarg and meet Governor S. K. Sinha and Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

Addressing the delegation, Mr. Omar Abdullah urged the Centre to set aside the parliamentary resolution of 1995 that declared Pakistan occupied Kashmir an integral part of India, and respond positively to Pakistan President Gen. Pervez Musharraf's suggestions.

Both countries need to take more "Kashmir-specific measures," he said. Gen. Musharraf, he said, was facing pressure in his country.

It is time India gave him some concessions.

Mr. Omar Abdullah said United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice too had urged Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to reciprocate Gen. Musharraf's "bold steps".

India could consider demilitarisation and withdrawal of troops from urban areas as the Government (in the State as well as at the Centre) had claimed an improvement in the situation.

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