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Army committed to Kashmir cause: Kayani

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani on Wednesday stressed on the “national consensus” on the Kashmir issue and reaffirmed the commitment of the Army to the Kashmir cause.

A military statement said General Kayani “highlighted the national consensus that exists on the Kashmir issue” and “reaffirmed the commitment of Pakistan Army to the Kashmir cause in line with the aspirations of Pakistani nation.”

He made these remarks during a visit to forward locations near the Line of Control.

They come a few days after Pakistan People’s Party leader Asif Ali Zardari told Indian television that India and Pakistan could “agree to disagree” on Kashmir, and that Kashmir should not be allowed to hijack the improvement of trade and other relations between the two countries.

Following criticism of his remarks from sections of Kashmiris and Pakistanis, the PPP clarified his remarks and said it stood for the “resolution of the Kashmir dispute and normalisation of relations on the basis of respect and honour.”

The party said it would not give up the U.N. resolutions unilaterally, but reiterated as the PPP’s view Mr. Zardari’s remarks in the interview about not letting “any single issue hold hostage the relations in the South Asian subcontinent”.

An anti-corruption court dismissed another case against Mr. Zardari, which leaves just one case pending against him.

The others charged in the case were the late Benazir Bhutto’s mother, Nusrat Bhutto, and a former government official heading Central Board of Revenue.

The case was dismissed by the National Accountability court following arguments by Mr. Zardari’s lawyer for the withdrawal of the cases under the National Reconciliation Ordinance, which was promulgated by President Pervez Musharraf after negotiations with Benazir on the eve of the presidential election last October.

The Supreme Court under Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhary had stayed the operationalisation of the NRO, but after his ouster, the court lifted the stay, paving the way for the withdrawal of the cases.

Last week, the same court dropped five cases against the PPP co-chariman.

The court has adjourned until Friday the last remaining case in which Mr. Zardari is charged with importing a BMW car without paying duty.

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