Sunday, June 19 2005 09:47 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Seeking to put an end to controversy over his alleged running of a militant training camp, Pakistan Information Minister Sheikh Rashid has insisted he only provided food and shelter to Kashmiri refugees while cautioning that there were elements who wanted to sabotage the peace process.

The Minister, against whom Former Chief of Army staff Aslam Baig and major Opposition parties levelled allegations of running the camp, said the media should close it once and for all.

"Close this Pandora's box. Too much has been said and written," he told the State-run PTV late last night (Jun 18, 2005). Rashid, whose proposed trip to Jammu and Kashmir by the June 30th Muzaffarabad-Srinagar bus has come under cloud ever since the controversy erupted after JKLF leader Yasin Malik reportedly made reference to the camp at a function in Islamabad, said there were elements who wanted to sabotage the peace process and were always ready to grab any opportunity to kick up the "dust" in order to hurt the peace movement.

He said what Malik stated was known to scores of journalists who were present at the function on June 13.

"They know the truth as to what was stated by him." When "hapless, uprooted people" came from Jammu and Kashmir, he said, he had "provided food and shelter to the "refugees purely on humanitarian grounds as it was his duty as a Muslim to help the brethren in distress."

"I have no remorse over doing my duty and I say it once again that never have I been involved in any militant training activity," he said.

Referring to reactions by Congress and BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party), Rashid alleged that both the ruling and Opposition parties in India had "teamed up" against him for no reason at all while Indian media was also "pro-actively" involved in "whipping up baseless propaganda."

"Let us bury this controversy. I have been and will remain an ardent supporter of peace between the two countries."

He said the peace trail opened by the confidence building measures, including the trans-Kashmir bus service and the just-concluded tour of PoK and Pakistan by the Kashmiri separatist leaders must be taken forward.

Asked whether the peace process would get affected if he was not allowed by India to visit J and K, he said, "My going or not going will not have an impact on peace process. But it will expose them (India) in the world. Peace process should go ahead whether I go or not."

Rashid said such a step will help only those people who want to take the peace process to zero point. Responsible people in the Indian Government should take notice, he said.

"Although my upcoming visit across the Line of Control is in my private capacity, yet the people and the leadership on the other side are eagerly looking forward to the trip. No one should have any misgivings or fears," he said.

"The time is ripe for the settlement of the Kashmir issue," he said, underlining that the opportunity for peace created by the present environment between the two countries should not be allowed to go waste.

He also charged that there were some people who were keen to "malign" him for political reasons as they had been unable to dislodge him in the political field.

Rashid said President Pervez Musharraf was firmly committed to the establishment of durable peace between Pakistan and India through a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue.

The President is for peace from the core of his heart and his deeds match his will, he said, adding, "The present climate is the best time for resolving the Kashmir issue and achieving peace in the region."

"We have fought wars and both have realised that there is no military solution to problems. Let us resolve issues across the table so that people of the two countries see progress and the region turns into a cradle of peace," he said.

Rashid said US President George W Bush, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and other world leaders were backing the peace process as it was in the interest of not only the region but also for the world peace that the two nuclear-armed countries are able to resolve issues dividing them.