Tuesday, June 7 2005 10:50 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Asserting that there was no "outside" pressure or roadmap for resolution of the Kashmir issue, Pakistan yesterday (Jun 6, 2005) said the visit of moderate Kashmiri separatists was aimed at finding a settlement to the issue and not bypassing the UN resolution on it.

Refuting the charge of hard-line Hurriyat leader Sayed Ali Shah Geelani, who had turned down Pakistan's invitation to visit the country, foreign office spokesman Jalil Abbas Jilani said, "Pakistan will not compromise on its basic stand on Kashmir. There is no outside pressure or roadmap on the solution."

Geelani had said Pakistan was yielding to pressure from United States to change its stand on the Kashmir issue.

On whether the current visit of Hurriyat leaders, led by Mirwaz Umer Farooq, clashed with the stand to implement UN resolutions, Jilani told reporters in Islamabad, "The UN resolutions call for resolution of Kashmir by ascertaining the wishes of Kashmiris."

"What we are doing in our interaction with the Kashmiris is to seek their views for possible solution to Jammu and Kashmir. So it does not clash with the UN resolution," he said.

Pakistan was aware that different opinions existed among the people of Jammu and Kashmir, Jilani claimed adding, "There are various sections. We are aware of views of various sections in Kashmir. Some want accession to Pakistan, some to India and others independence."