Islamabad: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf tonight (Oct 25, 2004) said that neither plebiscite nor making the Line of Control permanent border could be a solution to the vexed Kashmir issue.

Addressing an Iftar dinner for the Editors of Pakistan newspapers, he suggested that the two countries first identify the regions, demilitarise them and in the third stage change their status to settle the lingering issue.

It was not clear from Musharraf's remarks what he meant but Pakistan official sources said the President suggested that the two countries should divide Kashmir on both sides of LOC into different regions, demilitarise them and later change their status.

According to PTV, Musharraf said a solution to the Kashmir issue cannot be found by insisting on plebiscite or making the LOC a permanent border.

"Any such solution has to be based on three points. First, we will have to identify the regions, demilitarise them and in the third stage change their status," he said.

He said his recent talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New York had been very useful. "In our next meeting (during the SAARC summit in Dhaka in January), we would look into various options which would come both from Pakistan and India."

Musharraf said the status quo in Kashmir is unacceptable.