Musharraf-Manmohan Meet: Pakistan, India to explore all options on Kashmir
By Mumtaz Hamid Rao - Pakistan Times Editor & Special Correspondent

NEW YORK (US): Pakistan and India have expressed their commitment for peaceful settlement of all issues, including Jammu and Kashmir. A joint statement issued at the end of a marathon meeting between President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reiterated the resolve of two sides to continue exploring of all possible options on the long-standing issues.

The two leaders met for half an hour exclusively and with the help of senior aides for three and a half hours. The two sides expressed their satisfaction over the conduct of talks in a cordial manner.

President Musharraf said he invited Indian Prime Minister to visit Pakistan which he has accepted, and he will undertake it at a convenient time. The meeting continued from 2015 hours to 0015 hours.

The Joint statement, read out by President Musharraf in the presence of both the sides at Hotel Palace said: “Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and President General Pervez Musharraf met and reiterated their relations, since they last met in New Delhi on April 18, 2005.

“The two leaders referred to the earlier statements of January 6, 2004 and April 18, 2005, and reiterated their pledge that they will not allow terrorism to impede the peace process.

“They reaffirmed their commitment to the decisions taken at their meeting in New Delhi and agreed to expedite their implementation.

“They also welcomed the progress made within the framework of the composite dialogue, including promotion of trade and economic relations, people to people contacts and confidence building measures.

“They also welcomed recent release of prisoners on both sides and agreed to continue the process on a humanitarian basis.

“They expressed their commitment to ensure a peaceful settlement of all pending issues, including Jammu and Kashmir to the satisfaction of both sides. They agreed on possible options for a peaceful negotiated settlement of issues. In this regard, they should continue to be pursued in a sincere spirit and purposeful manner.

In his brief remarks, Manmohan Singh said: “We have covered substantially all aspects of our relationship and this joint statement brings out the outcome of the meeting. And I am satisfied with the outcome of the meeting.”

Foreign Ministers Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri and Natwar Singh were present in the talks and the press briefing.

The aides on Pakistan side were: Secretary National Security Council, Tariq Aziz; Chairman Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed; Ambassador Jehangir Karamat and Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Munir Akram; while from the Indian side those present were National Security Advisor, M K Narayanan and Indian External Affairs Secretary Shayam Saran.

Details

In hectic four and half hours negotiations at the sidelines of UNGA, Pakistan and India were found to be in a deadlock as the two sides failed to hammer out a meaningful joint statement at the end of their much awaited New York Summit. Pakistan had wanted India to finalise the long concluded agreement on demilitarisation of Siachen and withdrawal of troops from the urban areas of held valley to provide relief to Kashmiris.

After six hours of nail biting wait, media was given out a brief joint statement which was read out by President General Pervez Musharraf. The two also did not entertain any questions. Prior to Musharraf Manmohan meeting, Secretary NSC Tariq Aziz and his Indian counterpart Narayan had already held several meetings in last three days to prepare the Summit agenda. President Musharraf was disappointed by the Indian indifference over the withdrawal of troops from urban areas of Jammu and Kashmir.

At one point he indicated his intent not to appear before the press. He even recalled his delegation from the press conference hall for last minute review of the joint statement, minutes before the two leaders were set to meet the press. His delegation comprised Foreign Minister Kurshid Mahmood Kasuri, Secretary NSC Tariq Aziz, Ambassador Munir Akram, Ambassdaor Jehangir Karamat, Mushahid Hussain Sayed and Military Secretary General Shafat Ali.

Minutes later Musharraf and Manmohan appeared before the press only to read out a very brief and watered down joint statement which said Pakistan and India have expressed their commitment for a peaceful settlement of all issues including Jammu and Kashmir to the satisfaction of both sides.

In his brief and reluctant remarks, the Indian Prime Minister told media persons that they had substantially covered all aspects of their relationship and that he was satisfied with the outcome of the meeting. Manmohan refused to take any question while Musharraf was all set to pour his heart out.

Two leaders broke bread but failed to break ice on the contentious issues like Kashmir, cross-border infiltration and terrorism. President General Musharraf had all the reasons to be disappointed as he was very anxious to get some assurance from the Indian PM for the withdrawal of troops from Held Valley before he met APHC leader Mirwaiz on the 17th in New York.

President Musharraf strongly believes that Kashmir specific CBMs have to be put in place by India to lend solace to Kashmiris. This, he feels, would help to achieve progress on three-way talks between India, Pakistan and Kashmiris in discussing options for the resolution of Kashmir dispute.

The atmospher for New York Summit was vitiated by the Indian Prime Minister who gave out a very hard hitting statement in Paris regarding no re-drawing of map hours before his arrival in New York for much awaited meeting with Pakistani President.

President Musharraf lost no time to reciprocate the gesture of his Indian counter- part by lashing out on India for not honouring the UNSC Resolutions on Kashmir during his address at the UNGA.

The meeting continued from 2015 hours to 0015 hours.

The joint statement, read out by President Musharraf in the presence of both the sides at Hotel Palace said: “Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and President General Pervez Musharraf met today reiterated their relations, since they last met in New Delhi on April 18, 2005.

“The two leaders referred to the earlier statements of January 6, 2004 and April 18, 2005, and reiterated their pledge that they will not allow terrorism to impede the peace process.

“They reaffirmed their commitment to the decisions taken at their meeting in New Delhi and agreed to expedite their implementation.

“They also welcomed the progress made within the framework of the composite dialogue, including promotion of trade and economic relations, people-to-people contacts and confidence building measures.

“They also welcomed recent release of prisoners on both sides and agreed to continue the process on a humanitarian basis.

“They expressed their commitment to ensure a peaceful settlement of all pending issues, including Jammu and Kashmir to the satisfaction of both sides. They agreed on possible options for a peaceful negotiated settlement of issues. In this regard, they should continue to be pursued in a sincere spirit and purposeful manner.●

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