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Kashmir & Musharraf's Viewpoint

THIS is with reference to spate of news items, articles and letters about the President Musharraf interview to Reuters News Agency. It is unfortunate that a masterstroke of intricate diplomacy is being depicted as a failure.

Ironically enough, the diplomats, opinion leaders and statesmen all over the world are praising the stand taken by President Musharraf, which has put India on defensive.

In this reference, the President more than once has clarified the position and stressed that Pakistan has not budged an inch from its moral and principled stand on Kashmir.

The President while meeting a broad cross section of Kashmiri leadership at Islamabad on December-22, 2003, clearly re-iterated the vivid and clear stand point of Pakistan about Kashmir. He made it clear in so many words that there was no change in Kashmir Policy.

Afterwards prominent Kashmiri leaders lauded the un-severwing stand of Pakistan, which has stood test of time. Sardar Muhammad Abdul Qayyum Khan praised the President for his crystal-clear viewpoint on Kashmir and termed his advocacy of Kashmiri people as un-precedented in the history of this dispute.

I would request all those who for any reason best known to them are raising hue and cry just for nothing, should keep the national interest first and foremost. At this crucial juncture we must stand united behind the President of Pakistan when he meets the Indian leadership in the side-lines of SAARC Summit.

Ather Khan
Islamabad