Islamabad: In a significant statement, President Pervez Musharraf has said Pakistan is ready to set aside its demand for settlement of Kashmir issue through United Nations resolutions and favoured both sides adopting a flexible approach and meeting "halfway" for a solution.

At the same time, he also accused India of being an "intransigent and arrogant" power, which attempted to "coerce" Pakistan.

Musharraf also expressed his desire to meet Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on the sidelines of SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) summit to be held in Islamabad from January 4 to 6.

It would be a pity if Vajpayee came all the way to Islamabad and went back without meeting him, he said in an interview to Reuters, adding such a move would be a loss to moderates and gain for extremists on both sides.

Warning that there was a danger of extremists on both sides gaining ground if the two countries delayed political talks to resolve Kashmir issue, Musharraf said Pakistan has left aside its stand for implementation of UN resolutions on Kashmir.

"We are for the United Nations Security Council resolution, whatever that stands for. However, now we have left that aside," he said.

"We keep saying that if we want to resolve this issue, both sides need to talk with each other with flexibility. Coming beyond stated positions, coming and meeting half way somewhere," he said.

PTI



Related Links
Kashmir is NOT negotiable