Whenever ruling or former leaders of Pakistan air their views on Kashmir and other issues that continue to bedevil the relations between New Delhi and Islamabad their views are full of contradictions and confusion.And the latest instance is of Gen. Pervez Musharraf, a former military ruler and President of Pakistan.He seems to be so much annoyed with the political leadership in Pakistan that he has claimed that the Army in Pakistan is not opposed to a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir issue. Though he did not spell out in clear terms his views on the stand successive political leaders in Pakistan on the Kashmir issue he, however, obliquely claimed that it was the political leadership in Islamabad and not the Army that has not supported moves that could lead to amicable settlement of the Kashmir issue. During his latest discourse in New Delhi conference,where he had reached from his self-imposed exile in London, Pervez underlined the need to “bury the hatchet”, which was possible of India an Pakistan moved forward to resolve the Kashmir issue, which has been the “root cause which spawns war”. He claimed that the Pakistan Army was fully backing the peace initiative with India and stressed that all issues have to be dealt with at the same time rather than follow a “step-by-step” process.
He has stated that the sides need to resolve the long-standing disputes between India and Pakistan because these are the causes of hatred, causes of conflict and wars. "We have to resolve the Kashmir issue which is actually the root cause which spawns not only the war or conflict but which spawns Mujahideens and religious militancy in Pakistan,"Musharaff has said. He said the issues need to be resolved for the socio-economic development of the people of the subcontinent. "It is high time we open our eyes to reality," he said, adding that both India and Pakistan need to take cue from Europe. We need to bury the hatchet," the former military ruler said.Musharraf spoke about his four-point formula for resolving the Kashmir issue, a matter he said was discussed with former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. His formula included gradual demilitarization along the Line of Control, giving maximum self governance to the two halves of Kashmir, making LoC irrelevant by opening as many routes along the border as possible and working on an over-watch mechanism.
It seems Musharraf has forgotten his role and policies vis-a-vis India,during the time he ruled Pakistan.And after having been shunned by the new establishment in Islamabad and fearing action against him Pervez Musharraf tries to project himself as an innocent as a cow in one breath and in the other he continues to be hot headed when he said he had no regrets for having engineered the Kargil conflict of 1999.Well except for dishing out his four-point proposal,which he has believed could result in the peaceful settlement of the Kashmir issue he,as the military ruler of Pakistan, remained inflexible when New Delhi favoured settlement of Siachen and Sir Creek issues besides Kashmir. During his nine-year rule Musharraf did not take any step to check infiltration of militants into Jammu and Kashmir. He did not initiate measures for closing arms training camps in Pakistan and occupied Kashmir.If he evinced interest in the settlement of the Kashmir and allied issues he was forced to do so because of pressure from Washington and on account of growing activities of terrorists and fundamentalists. There have been a number of political leaders, including those who matter in the PPP led Government in Islamabad, who allege that he Pakistan Army and the ISI oppose settlement of the Kashmir issue through the process of dialogue. Who is right ? Politicians in Pakistan or Gen Musharraf ? |
