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Pak links success of peace process
with Hurriyat visit

Pakistan on Sunday linked the success of the recent peace initiatives with Hurriyat leaders' trip to Islamabad, saying the delay in the visit would not help the process, and insisted that the Kashmir issue could not be treated as a 'territorial dispute' between the two countries.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar told a seminar in Islamabad, while responding to New Delhi's ceasefire, Pakistan had proposed a comprehensive formula for a dialogue which included the visit of Hurriyat leaders to Pakistan followed by India-Pakistan talks.

"Despite Pakistan's positive response to India's ceasefire, the Indian government has not cleared the travel documents of the Hurriyat leaders to visit Pakistan," Sattar said unleashing a barrage of criticism against New Delhi, barely two days after an atmosphere of bonhomie was created by the telephonic talk between Gen Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Sattar said delay in the visit of the Hurriyat leaders was 'not conducive for continuing the peace process' and urged India to immediately allow the trip.

He insisted that Pakistan's peace initiatives could 'succeed only if India permits the Hurriyat leaders to visit Islamabad followed by talks between the two countries to work out a comprehensive settlement'.

Sattar said, "Pakistan would not agree to treat the Kashmir issue as a territorial dispute between the two countries but will continue to insist on an amicable solution that meets the aspirations of Kashmiris."

Sattar said after Prime Minister Vajpayee's declaration of an unilateral ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir in November last, the situation along the Line of Control had improved. "But mere suspension of hostilities is not enough," he said.

Sattar's utterances at the seminar on Kashmir - Self-determination now came as the government prepared to observe 'Kashmir Solidarity Day' on Monday during which Gen Musharraf is scheduled to visit Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Barely two days ago, commenting on the first high-level contact since the military coup in October 1999, Musharraf had expressed the hope that it would create a conducive atmosphere for resumption of bilateral talks.

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COMPLETE COVERAGE
Government initiated ceasefire in J&K

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