Islamabad: The United States has no secret plan for resolution of Kashmir issue and
preferred it to be resolved between India, Pakistan and people of Kashmir under the
principles of Shimla accord, a senior official of the
Bush administration has said.
"US does not hold in its pocket any secret plan or a framework for the solution (of
Kashmir issue) and it really has to be worked out among India, Pakistan and the
people of Kashmir," Richard Haass, director policy planning, US State department
said in an interview to state-run PTV channel on November 1.
US wants resolution of Kashmir issue through diplomatic and peaceful means and the
principles of Shimla accord which provides for a framework for the peaceful
resolution of the issue, said Haass, an advisor to US Secretary of State Colin
Powell.
The interests and perspectives of the people of Kashmir have to be taken into
account, he said.
Haass, who arrived in Pakistan two days ago after a brief visit to New Delhi during
which he held talks with top Indian officials, met Pakistan Minister of State for
Foreign Affairs Inamul Haq and top military officials during his stay.
Referring to the elections in Jammu and Kashmir Haass said that both India and
Pakistan have divergent stands on the polls in the Valley.
"Dialogue is a way to move things forward and Indians want dialogue which include
but is not limited to the issue of Kashmir. The Indian government also wants to take
up the entire issue of cross-border infiltration," he said.
He said that the dialogue should take place even if differences exist on bigger
issues. Both the countries should start co-operation in other areas if they cannot
resolve the bigger issues.
"Even if India and Pakistan are not ready to hold talks at the highest level, it
will be healthy for both the countries to begin interacting positively," he said.
In this connection, he referred to resumption of diplomatic relations, air and bus
links, increase in trade activity and sports competitions between the two countries.
He said that the United States wants improvement in the life of people of Kashmir as
a result of the elections.
Welcoming the decision by India and Pakistan to withdraw their troops to peacetime
locations, Haass said, "This is a healthy development, but obviously there are still
big disagreements between the two countries including the Kashmir issue. This mutual
announcement of redeployment of forces provides a breathing space and an
opportunity."
PTI
