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  • Nov 21st, 2004
  • Comments Off on 1948 stance on Kashmir not abdicated: President
President Pervez Musharraf has categorically stated that the country in no way has abdicated its stand taken up in 1948 in the UN General Assembly, and stood firm by it. Speaking at the fourth South Asian Free Media Association (Safma) conference here on Saturday, the President assured the Kashmiris that he could not imagine a solution of the Kashmir issue over their heads.

He said that flexibility towards solving the longstanding problem must be reciprocated by India. "We want to solve the issues with India with sincerity. However, in flexibility, Indians must meet halfway," he stressed.

Stating that his demilitarisation suggestion on Kashmir's various regions given by him was not a solution of the issue but was a feeler and opening of a debate on the longstanding problem. "I have only given geographic, ethnic and religious realities on Kashmir," he added.

Terming the latest vibes on Kashmir coming from India as 'not encouraging' he averred that movement on improvement of relations between the two countries was not a one-way traffic. On the issues between two countries, he said, "when we talk we want answers".

He said that there was light at the end of the tunnel with the hope that solution of the Kashmir issue could be arrived at to the satisfaction of Pakistan, India, and Kashmiris, all three parties to the conflict.

About affairs concerning South Asia, Musharraf said that with the tone of relations between India and Pakistan, this region had remained out of loop of economic activity. "With the stepping stone of intra-regional cooperation, inter-regional cooperation could take off in South-Asia," he added.

He said that Saarc has a role to play by making it a potential force. He said that he genuinely desires opening of border and not creating tariffs in trade between regional countries.

In the fight against terrorism and enlightenment modernisation strategy, the President said he was working on two-pronged strategy which envisages in first part rejection of terrorism by Islamic countries and in second part a role by United States in the solution of key world issues.

He said that with strong support to Bonn process and elections in Afghanistan, "we have contributed in returning of harmony to the country".

About general political situation in the world he said that it was unfortunate that all conflicts of political nature involve Muslims, and again Pakistan happens to be the centre of conflict, directly or indirectly.

Asking journalists to play their role in making up of the country he said he was a firm believer in liberalisation, freedom of writing, freedom to access to information and places.

He asked Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi to give a positive thought to the request of Safma for a piece of land to construct a university. He announced open visas for journalists of Safma to the country.

Earlier, M. Ziauddin, President, Safma Pakistan chapter, in his address said that challenges and difficulties facing Safma in its declared task "are many" and these would continue to test the patience and skill of the dedicated journalists from the seven Saarc countries forming the core of the association.

He said that with regional environment just right at present, the members of Safma, too, reaching out to grip a glimmer of peace.

Imtiaz Alam, Secretary General, giving theme and objectives of the conference admired President Pervez Musharraf for his leading role in the war against terrorism by risking his own life. He appreciated the President's proactive role in taking forward the peace process and composite dialogue with India.

Stating that the conference would focus on the ongoing reconciliation process in the region, he averred that ice on all sides was melting, but not at a speed as the people of South Asia wish. However, despite the slow pace of and hiccups in the reconciliation process in South Asia, what is common to all inter- and intra-state conflicts is that the parties to the conflict now realise the necessity of peaceful resolution of the conflicts through negotiations after having learnt from the bitter and violent history of conflicts that they bring misery to the people and devastation to land on all sides of the divide.

Imtiaz said that in a short period of four years, despite many hurdles and difficulties, Safma has emerged as mainstream media body in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Nepal and to some extent in Sri Lanka and has been recognised by Saarc Secretariat as an associated body.

Besides a large number of journalists from Pakistan, more than 225 delegates from South Asia and representatives of international media were present in the conference. Punjab Governor Khalid Maqbool and Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi were present on the occasion.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2004


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