Thursday, April 28 2005 08:05 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Claiming there was a "lot of common ground in ideas" between him and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf last night (Apr 27, 2005) said he preferred the Kashmir issue to be solved during the tenure of the two leaders.

Participating in an interactive programme on PTV's "Aapke Roo Baroo", Musharraf said Singh has "shown sincerity of intent in moving towards a genuine settlement of the long-standing dispute".

"There is a lot of common ground in our ideas," he said but cautioned that moving forward towards a final settlement was not easy. "There is a lot of grey areas (en route)," Musharraf added.

The Pakistan President said he and Singh have not discussed any specific timeframe to resolve Kashmir issue during their recent talks in New Delhi but he expects it to be resolved during their tenures in office.

"We did not discuss any timeframe as such. But one does realize, he does and I do, that we both are now at a juncture in history where we can contribute to peace, amity and harmony between India and Pakistan," Musharraf said.

"We are lucky, I would say to be the personalities, who at this time and at this point can play a role," he said.

Elaborating, he said, "We both realised that we should seize the moment. This is the word. We must seize the moment. Otherwise, we would be letting down two nations and the people of Kashmir," Musharraf said.

"Now, what is seizing the moment? If we both have to be seize the moment, it should be done within our tenure," Musharraf said.

While there was no timeframe, he said he expects it to be resolved "as soon as possible", adding, "I do not know how he (Singh) interprets 'as soon as possible' and how I interpret. I am a military man. May be, I interpret it three months. May he interprets 'as soon as possible' to be three years. So, these are all vague terms and we did not discuss specific timeframe as such."

Musharraf said the joint statement issued at the end of his visit to New Delhi "reflects the sincerity of intention to resolve the long-standing dispute".

Terming as a "good document" the statement, he said that, for the first time, it has covered all issues with a clear emphasis on "purposeful and meaningful" talks on Kashmir for its final settlement.

"It is a good document as everything is in clear terms," he said.

The statement also called for an immediate need to expeditiously resolve the issues of Siachen, Sir Creek, he added.

Asked on India's stand of "no re-drawing of maps", Musharraf said during his talks with Indian leadership it has been made clear that Pakistan would never accept the Line of Control (LoC) as a permanent border.

"They understand and they have acknowledged our stand," he said.

Replying to a question, he said, it is clear now that both Pakistan and India cannot be coerced into accepting any given solution of Kashmir.

"Pakistan has full confidence in its potential and cannot be coerced," he said adding, there is also a realisation on the Indian side that there cannot be a settlement of the Kashmir dispute by force as well.

"There is only one way (to solve the Kashmir issue) - that is to find a peaceful settlement in a sincere and acceptable manner," he added.

President Musharraf ruled out possibility of any unilateral flexibility on the lingering issue, saying it has to be a two-way process.

Emphasising the "centrality" of Kashmir issue in Pakistan-India ties, he said everything else will become irrelevant if it is not addressed.

"When I show optimism, it is in my intent. We need to proceed further with harmony and sincerity. In my judgment there is a genuine intent towards an acceptable settlement of Kashmir," he said.

Musharraf said it was Pakistan's proposal to open new points at the LoC, saying these would facilitate the Kashmiri people and provide them convenience and comfort in travelling.

In response to another question, the President said, "It is clear that there has to be in-tandem progress in the Confidence Building Measures (CBM) and dispute resolution."

The President said the resolution of disputes will enable the two South Asian countries to benefit from tremendous trade potential, as geographical proximity will facilitate cost-effective commercial links.

On Baglihar dam, the President claimed it has been left to neutral observers to look into the issue.

Similarly, he said, the idea of trade between the Kashmiri people of the two sides is meant to benefit them economically.

On alleged human rights violation and atrocities in the Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), the President said he took up the matter with the Indian Prime Minister and emphasised the urgent need to bring an end to it.

Both the sides felt that these violations should stop, he claimed.

He said there were over six lakhs Indian troops were present and the military has to move out to give real comfort to the Kashmiri people.

Musharraf underscored the crucial significance of addressing the underlying cause of tension between the two South Asian neighbours, saying harmony between the leadership at a particular point of history does not guarantee permanent peace.

"The past accords including the Tashkent Declaration, the Simla Accord and the Lahore Declaration could not deliver as they did not address the core issue," he said.