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Nirupama Subramanian
Says progress made on issue is irreversible
# Final "package" to be put before Pakistan Parliament
# `It bears resemblance to Musharraf plan'
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India have almost reached an "agreement" to resolve the Kashmir issue and it is being given a final shape, Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri said in an interview to The Nation here.
Mr. Kasuri told the newspaper that the two nations were moving towards a settlement of the Kashmir dispute "that might not be the first choice for all the three parties but it could be the second best."
"Lot of ground has been covered for an agreement on Kashmir and some areas of difference are being sorted out," he said.
Reality on Siachen
The Foreign Minister expressed similar optimism on Siachen in late 2006 and early 2007, but a meeting of the Defence Secretaries earlier this month laid bare how far apart the two countries really were on the issue.
Mr. Kasuri said he could not reveal more details of the Kashmir deal because of the sensitivity of the matter, but added that the contours were already being discussed in the media.
`It's no secret deal'
The two sides were not finalising a secret deal and all they were doing was to avoid unnecessary opposition by some elements on both sides before finalisation of the agreement, he said.
The finalised Kashmir "package" would be presented before the Pakistan Parliament for approval. However, if it were not approved by Parliament it would not be acceptable to Pakistan, he added.
He said "certain steps" were needed to sell the package to the people of India, Pakistan and Kashmir.
Mr. Kasuri claimed that the progress made on the Kashmir issue was "irreversible" and possible political changes in either country would not change this.
The newspaper quoted another unnamed senior official as saying that "the proposed package on Kashmir bears resemblance to the President Musharraf's four-point Kashmir plan asking for the Kashmiris' self-rule, demilitarisation of the disputed territory, free movement across the Line of Control (LoC) and joint management by Pakistan and India."
Mr. Kasuri said that contrary to the general perception, progress had been made by the South Asian nuclear States since the commencement of peace process in January 2004.
Asked about the likely time frame for settlement of Kashmir dispute, he said the progress made so far was "beyond imagination".
"It also depends on the internal situation in the two countries as it is going to be an election year in Pakistan whereas in India polls are being held in some States," he said.
On Siachen issue, Mr. Kasuri said the proposals given by Pakistan addressed concerns of both sides.
He said the position of troops on both sides could be determined with the help of satellite. He denied reports that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Pakistan was linked to the solution of Siachen or Sir Creek issue but somewhat contradictorily added that as it would be a "high profile visit," there should be an agreement on any one of the major issues between the two sides.
http://www.hindu.com/2007/04/21/stories/2007042104481300.htm
Says progress made on issue is irreversible
# Final "package" to be put before Pakistan Parliament
# `It bears resemblance to Musharraf plan'
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India have almost reached an "agreement" to resolve the Kashmir issue and it is being given a final shape, Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri said in an interview to The Nation here.
Mr. Kasuri told the newspaper that the two nations were moving towards a settlement of the Kashmir dispute "that might not be the first choice for all the three parties but it could be the second best."
"Lot of ground has been covered for an agreement on Kashmir and some areas of difference are being sorted out," he said.
Reality on Siachen
The Foreign Minister expressed similar optimism on Siachen in late 2006 and early 2007, but a meeting of the Defence Secretaries earlier this month laid bare how far apart the two countries really were on the issue.
Mr. Kasuri said he could not reveal more details of the Kashmir deal because of the sensitivity of the matter, but added that the contours were already being discussed in the media.
`It's no secret deal'
The two sides were not finalising a secret deal and all they were doing was to avoid unnecessary opposition by some elements on both sides before finalisation of the agreement, he said.
The finalised Kashmir "package" would be presented before the Pakistan Parliament for approval. However, if it were not approved by Parliament it would not be acceptable to Pakistan, he added.
He said "certain steps" were needed to sell the package to the people of India, Pakistan and Kashmir.
Mr. Kasuri claimed that the progress made on the Kashmir issue was "irreversible" and possible political changes in either country would not change this.
The newspaper quoted another unnamed senior official as saying that "the proposed package on Kashmir bears resemblance to the President Musharraf's four-point Kashmir plan asking for the Kashmiris' self-rule, demilitarisation of the disputed territory, free movement across the Line of Control (LoC) and joint management by Pakistan and India."
Mr. Kasuri said that contrary to the general perception, progress had been made by the South Asian nuclear States since the commencement of peace process in January 2004.
Asked about the likely time frame for settlement of Kashmir dispute, he said the progress made so far was "beyond imagination".
"It also depends on the internal situation in the two countries as it is going to be an election year in Pakistan whereas in India polls are being held in some States," he said.
On Siachen issue, Mr. Kasuri said the proposals given by Pakistan addressed concerns of both sides.
He said the position of troops on both sides could be determined with the help of satellite. He denied reports that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Pakistan was linked to the solution of Siachen or Sir Creek issue but somewhat contradictorily added that as it would be a "high profile visit," there should be an agreement on any one of the major issues between the two sides.
http://www.hindu.com/2007/04/21/stories/2007042104481300.htm
