Monday, September 26 2005 16:19 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: At the end of a week-long visit, Sardar Abdul Qayyum, former self styled President of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), today (Sept 26, 2005) expressed serious doubts over emergence of an independent Jammu and Kashmir saying that the dream of a 'sovereign Kashmir' could not be fulfilled in the next 100 years.

Suggesting a United States of Jammu and Kashmir under multi-national control, Qayyum, who was speaking at an interactive session, organised by the Observer Research Foundation, said, "Sovereign or an independent Kashmir is not possible in next 100 years."

"Especially after the experience in Central Asia, I don't think the world will support any fresh Muslim Sovereign state," Qayyum said.

The PoK leader had told reporters earlier that there was no support to independence in the occupied Kashmir and it was only a myth created by some vested interests.

Qayyum, who was responding to questions from intellectuals like former Governors of the State, Jagmohan and Girish Chander Saxena, attempted to defend militancy, saying that the militancy would vanish once the peace process would have an 'electrifying effect' and situation at the ground will improve drastically.

However, when he went ahead to claim that neither the soil of PoK or Pakistan was being used for running militancy camp, he was countered by Saxena, who said, "In the last 16 years, India has never heard that anyone was intercepted, killed or arrested by Pakistani forces at the LoC. Let us not be under any misconception that PoK soil has been the breeding ground of militancy," he said.

Referring to a question about Northern Areas, Qayyum said Northern Areas was a part of Jammu and Kashmir and when the question of exercising the 'right of self-determination' would come, the area would be taken into consideration.

However, when he was questioned about the continuance of these areas under Pakistan occupation despite an order of the Supreme Court, he said, "Taking over the Northern Areas was necessary apparently due to Chinese intrusion."

The PoK leader was uneasy about a question by a retired army officer as to whether the elections in PoK were free and fair and whether the regime in Muzaffarabad was not ruled remote from General Headquarters based in Rawalpindi.

"I have been trying to avoid these questions as they irritate me. However, I will ask all those who point fingers at polls in PoK to come and see for themselves," said Qayyum.

He quickly added that there had been only one election which was rigged massively and that was during the regime of Benazir Bhutto.

Bhutto's PPP and Qayyum's Muslim Conference are arch political rivals.

Qayyum agreed with the suggestion of Jagmohan that Kashmir should be a role model for other parts of India and Pakistan in eradication of poverty and backwardness.

However, he preferred to parry a question about another suggestion of Jagmohan about 'cutting the supply line of militancy from Pakistan and PoK.'