He was addressing the participants of a conference of the Washington-based 'Pugwash' think-tank at Aiwan-e-Sadr here on Friday. The gathering included Kashmir leaders of all shades of opinion and from both sides of the LoC and Pakistani and Indian South Asian experts.
Elaborating, the President said that there was need to take on board all stakeholders - Pakistan, India and the Kashmiris - in the process of arriving at final solution to the lingering dispute, which is acceptable to Pakistan, India and the Kashmiris.
"I strongly believe that an environment exists at the moments both regionally and internationally, for an ultimate solution to Kashmir. The environment has never been so conducive," he said. He said that Pakistan's proposals address concerns of all three parties involved.
"Such a solution would neither require redrawing of borders, nor make the Line of Control permanent, but would make the LoC irrelevant. At the same time, demilitarisation will give comfort to Kashmiris, who have suffered for far too long. The demilitarisation will be a huge confidence-building measure and it will also help discourage militancy", he stated.
The President said that Pakistan "is prepared to discuss proposals for the pullout of troops" from Kashmir, and renewed his call to India to start discussions on withdrawal of troops from defined territories of Kashmir by both sides.
He said that Pakistan was prepared to show flexibility if India demonstrated reciprocity for a workable settlement of the dispute. He added that any proposal offering a solution to the decades-old dispute should be discussed openly and not shrouded in secrecy.
In this context, he underscored that the peace opportunity, born of recent dialogue process and unique understanding between the leadership of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and himself, should be grasped with flexibility, sincerity and courage from all sides.
"All three parties will have to be flexible and to move back from their maximalist positions. We must show courage to reconcile. Courage and boldness are all the more important in finding a solution to the lingering problem.
"I am showing the courage for peace. Courage to reconcile is greater than courage to confront. We must bury the bitter past and look to future."
Reviewing the progress in the peace process, he said that both the confidence-building measures and conflict resolution should move forward in tandem as in the absence of conflict resolution the CBMs would lose their effectiveness. Referring to the global environment, the President said that the international community, major powers and Muslim Ummah "are for conflict resolution" in South Asia.
"South Asia is looking for peace. The dividends of peace will be unimaginable for one fifth of humanity living in the region. The Saarc member countries cannot move forward without dispute resolution, which is essential for durable progress."
President Musharraf described the presence of Kashmiris of all shades of opinion at the meeting as a good omen, and said he would be willing to attend such a conference in Srinagar, or New Delhi, alongside Prime Minister Singh, if invited.
He agreed with a participant who advocated greater interaction between Kashmiri leadership on both sides of the LoC and said it was he, who had proposed opening up of five points at the LoC in the wake of October 8 earthquake catastrophe.
The participants praised President Musharraf's courage and boldness vis-à-vis his proposals for addressing one of the oldest disputes on international agenda
Omar Abdullah, President of National Conference, remarked that President Musharraf was absolutely right in stressing the importance of making use of the fleeting peace opportunity.
"Such opportunities come once in a lifetime, and may not come again. The kind of understanding that President Musharraf and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh have today cannot be guaranteed in future if there is a leadership change," he said.
He said, "Therefore it is important that the two leaders, when they have an understanding now and there is an atmosphere for talks and the peace process is moving forward, should grasp the opportunity now. "I agree with President Musharraf that the door of opportunity may not remain open for ever."
Kashmir, he emphasised, "is a political dispute and requires" political solution, and added that a solution in accordance with maximalist positions by all was not possible.
Omar, who met President Pervez Musharraf earlier on Friday, said India should order its troops in occupied Kashmir back to barracks as a confidence-building move.
He doubted whether demilitarisation would happen any time soon, but said that, given that the (freedom) movement had died down, India could take a chance by returning troops to barracks as a first step. "Troops can be removed from civilian areas and kept at their garrison camps," Omar told reporters after meeting Musharraf.
He also said Pakistan and India should withdraw troops from the Siachen Glacier, the world's highest battlefield, where more troops died of cold than by bullets. Talks on Siachen are expected to take place in May.
Omar said he had discussed his party's proposal for granting more autonomy to Kashmir in talks with Musharraf as well as Pakistan's suggestion for some sort of self-governance for the divided region with oversight by Pakistan and India.
"I think there is very little difference in these proposals ... we can upgrade our proposal for autonomy if needed," he said without elaborating.
Senior APHC leader, Abdul Ghani Bhat, Barrister Majeed Tirimbo, Executive Director Kashmir Centre, Brussels, Sajjad Lone of People's League; Khalid Ibrahim of AJK PPP, Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain and other Kashmiri representatives, appreciated the President's powerful emphasis on "courage, boldness and flexibility" addressing the Kashmir dispute.