Musharraf Proposes Radical Solutions on Kashmir

The President received harsh criticism when he said that the status of Kashmir should be discussed absolutely. Last month, after meeting with the Indian Prime Minister in New York, Musharraf emphasized his optimism about the 57 year old issue.

At a reception held in Islamabad yesterday, the Pakistani President disclosed that the Kashmir issue has reached a critical point and offered suggestions for a solution including independence, co-administration, re-division, or administration by the United Nations (UN). He said that Pakistan could negotiate with India on a UN administration in Kashmir.

Although he has always refused India’s recommendation for continuous separation, Musharraf now says that this could be accepted. He criticized Pakistani politics on the issue so far and said the Islamabad administration’s long-standing demands for a referendum demand are definitely not applicable.

Musharraf described his statements as a "Discussion exercise." The Pakistani President emphasized that he has not discussed any of these proposals with anyone until now and requested that experts share their opinions. He said the first thing that needs to be taken care of is disarmament in the region followed by change in Kashmir’s status.

Musharraf’s unexpected statements have led to heated debates on the issue. Most of his views have been labeled as a "betrayal of the cause". The opposition described his remarks as a "U-turn" in conventional government politics.

On the other side of the border, the Indian administration approached Musharraf’s opinion with deliberation. "Recommendations should be put forward not through the media but through official talks," read an Indian Foreign Ministry statement issued yesterday.

Last week, both Pakistan and India agreed to hold eight separate meetings on the Kashmir issue over the next two months.

Kashmir has been divided between the two nations since their independence from the UK in 1947.