London: India and Pakistan were very
close to solving the Kashmir issue on the basis of a
four-point formula, former Pakistani president Gen Pervez
Musharraf has claimed.
"We were not far from resolving Kashmir problem with
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the basis of a four-point
parametres which would demilitarise Kashmir and make the line
of control irrelevant," Musharraf told a gathering organised
in the House of Lords by Lord Iltaf Sheikh, a Pakistani-origin
Conservative peer.
Earlier speaking at the Royal Institute of
International Affairs, he said, "the three issues involving
India and Pakistan were Kashmir which the most difficult to
solve but we were close to solving even that with India's
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Siachin and Sir Creek
issues."
Musharraf complimented India's Prime Minister for his
vision, flexibility and his sincerity. The other two issues,
Siachen and Sir Creek, can be solved "tomorrow", he added.
"We have had upteen number of discussions on them but
it needs leadership decision. He said the survey of Sir Creek
area has been done by the two navies 'in my time but' it needs
a leadership decision to 'sign and agree to'."
He claimed that the "relationship between India and
Pakistan have almost always, except for a brief period, been
tense, confrontational and conspirational."
At his House of Lords address to spoke about his plans
to return to Pakistan to join politics.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, February 25, 2010, 22:23