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Pak President rules out secret deal on Kashmir

IRNA

Islamabad, Jan 8, IRNA - Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf 
assured Kashmiri leaders on Thursday that there would be no secret 
deal on Kashmir and that there is no solution under consideration 
which is contrary to the aspirations of Kashmiris. 
"Kashmir problem would be resolved in accordance with the wishes 
of Kashmiris," President Musharraf was quoted as telling the Kashmiri 
leaders in a meeting here. 
Musharraf had invited Kashmiri leaders from both the sides of 
Line of Control (LoC) to brief them about his this week talks with 
Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. 
President Musharraf and Prime Minister Vajpayee had agreed to 
continue composite dialogue on host of issues including the question 
of Jammu and Kashmir in February. 
"Kashmiri leaders backed General Musharraf stand on Kashmir and 
were satisfied over the outcome of their discussion with the 
president," former Prime Minister of Pakistan-controlled Kashmir 
Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan told reporters after the meeting. 
"General Musharraf assured us that Kashmir issue would be resolved
according to the wishes of the people of Kashmir." 
Qayyum said General Musharraf was of the view that for the first 
time India has agreed on composite dialogue. 
General Musharraf said that he would take Kashmiri leadership 
into confidence while taking any decision about Kashmir, he added. 
The Kashmiri leader said that the SAARC summit has paved the way 
for further progress in improvement of relations between the two 
countries. He also urged the Kashmiri leaders to set aside their 
differences at this critical juncture. 
Speaking on the occasion, Pakistan Information Minister Sheikh 
Rashid Ahmed said that Kashmiris on both sides of LoC should welcome 
the joint statement issued after the meeting between President 
Musharraf and Prime Minister Vajpayee. 
He said that President Musharraf wished interaction between the 
people of Kashmir on both side of the LoC and that the Islamabad 
declaration would be sincerely implemented. 
"The 55-year old Kashmir issue could be resolved if sincerely is 
demonstrated," the Information Minister quoted the President as 
telling the Kashmiri leaders. 
He said Musharraf highlighted the centrality of the Kashmir issue 
and said the solution of this issue could have positive impact on all 
other problems. 
"The Kashmiri leaders reposed confidence in the leadership of 
President Musharraf and extended their felicitation to the president 
over the successful Islamabad declaration," the official said. 
/TSH/216/212 
End