Islamabad: As Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf came under attack from Opposition and Islamic parties for his new Kashmir formula, the Government today (Oct 29, 2004) clarified that the General has not made any proposal but thrown open certain ideas for a debate to elicit public opinion.

Musharraf has not given any proposal for resolving the Kashmir issue, rather he has asked the media to carry out a debate to elicit public opinion, a Foreign Office spokesman said in a statement.

While elaborating on Musharraf's talk with journalists at an Iftar Dinner on Tuesday, he clarified that the President had not given any proposal as being reported in a section of the press.

He said Musharraf had described various ethnic and geographical regions of Jammu and Kashmir and said that one way to initiate the debate was to identify regions, demilitarise and look at ways to change their status.

The spokesman said the media should carry out a debate to elicit public opinion, which if conducted in these broad parameters will bring out dozens of options, reflecting various shades of public opinion.