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Tuesday, December 5, 2006 (New Delhi):
In what is being seen as a possible major breakthrough on the Kashmir problem, Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf, has for the first time said that Pakistan is prepared to give up its claim on Kashmir.
Speaking to NDTV's Prannoy Roy, General Musharraf explained that under the four-point solution to Kashmir, Pakistan will also give up its old demand for a plebiscite in Kashmir and will forget all the UN resolutions.
Dr Prannoy Roy: Finally in this solution, Pakistan is giving up its claim to Kashmir? You are letting them self govern and you have no claim on Kashmir in this picture.
General Musharraf: We are at the moment, both India and Pakistan, on the same position as we were since 1948.
But we both, I am saying, we both ought to be prepared to give up all that we have been saying. And this includes all this. If we reach an agreement where we are giving self-governance, yes indeed, that is it.
Dr Prannoy Roy: So you are prepared to give up your claim to Kashmir?
General Musharraf: We will have to, yes, if this solution comes up.
Demand for plebiscite
President Musharraf also makes it clear that if the four-point solution is agreed upon, Pakistan will give up on the UN resolutions and its long-standing demand for a plebiscite.
Pakistan giving up its claim on Kashmir would be a historic turnaround and is based on the four-point solution for Kashmir.
India has refused to re-draw the boundaries of Kashmir or give away any territory, while Pakistan refused to accept the Line of Control as the international border.
Under the 4-point solution, these two basic conditions are not changed.
The solution says:
Kashmir will have the same borders but people will be allowed to move freely back and forth in the region.
The region will have self-governance or autonomy, but not independence
Troops will be withdrawn from the region in a staggered manner
A joint supervision mechanism will be set up, with India, Pakistan and Kashmir represented.
Dr Prannoy Roy: One thing in your solution. I will just be very clear so that the people of India can know this clearly. You are being, in a way, extremely bold, because it means that you are giving up plebiscite and giving up the UN resolution?
General Musharraf: Again there is little bit of, one is giving up that clearly and I say, yes I am giving up. There is a provision in that, I am not giving up at all. But one is prepared to give up, in case India leaves its stated position also.
Dr Prannoy Roy: Right. If this formula is agreed to you, you will give that up, basically.
General Musharraf: Both sides, listen, I believe when you are negotiating and you go for peace, it means what? It means compromise. Otherwise you can't have and you canââ¬â¢t go for a solution of a problem.
What do you mean by compromise? Compromise can never take place if you don't step back. Compromise inherently means stepping back by both sides. So inherently, both sides have to give up their positions and step back. If one of us is not prepared to step back, we will not reach a solution.
Dr Prannoy Roy: If India does accepts this, you will step back and give up those demands.
General Musharraf: Yes, we will have to.
Independence for Kashmir
The Pakistani President also made it clear that once Pakistan gives up its claim to Kashmir, the four-point solution is not a negotiating step towards getting independence for Kashmir.
He added categorically that self-governance or autonomy is not the first step to Kashmir's independence.
Dr Prannoy Roy: When you talk about self governance of Kashmir, we won't not go into the details that we will leave the bureaucrats andââ¬Â¦
General Musharraf: Yes, legal side legal...
Dr Prannoy Roy: Are you then saying, no independence for Kashmir?
General Musharraf: Yes, we are against independence.
Dr Prannoy Roy: You are against independence?
General Musharraf: Absolutely, and so is India.
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NEWS/newsrf.php?newsid=7844
In what is being seen as a possible major breakthrough on the Kashmir problem, Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf, has for the first time said that Pakistan is prepared to give up its claim on Kashmir.
Speaking to NDTV's Prannoy Roy, General Musharraf explained that under the four-point solution to Kashmir, Pakistan will also give up its old demand for a plebiscite in Kashmir and will forget all the UN resolutions.
Dr Prannoy Roy: Finally in this solution, Pakistan is giving up its claim to Kashmir? You are letting them self govern and you have no claim on Kashmir in this picture.
General Musharraf: We are at the moment, both India and Pakistan, on the same position as we were since 1948.
But we both, I am saying, we both ought to be prepared to give up all that we have been saying. And this includes all this. If we reach an agreement where we are giving self-governance, yes indeed, that is it.
Dr Prannoy Roy: So you are prepared to give up your claim to Kashmir?
General Musharraf: We will have to, yes, if this solution comes up.
Demand for plebiscite
President Musharraf also makes it clear that if the four-point solution is agreed upon, Pakistan will give up on the UN resolutions and its long-standing demand for a plebiscite.
Pakistan giving up its claim on Kashmir would be a historic turnaround and is based on the four-point solution for Kashmir.
India has refused to re-draw the boundaries of Kashmir or give away any territory, while Pakistan refused to accept the Line of Control as the international border.
Under the 4-point solution, these two basic conditions are not changed.
The solution says:
Kashmir will have the same borders but people will be allowed to move freely back and forth in the region.
The region will have self-governance or autonomy, but not independence
Troops will be withdrawn from the region in a staggered manner
A joint supervision mechanism will be set up, with India, Pakistan and Kashmir represented.
Dr Prannoy Roy: One thing in your solution. I will just be very clear so that the people of India can know this clearly. You are being, in a way, extremely bold, because it means that you are giving up plebiscite and giving up the UN resolution?
General Musharraf: Again there is little bit of, one is giving up that clearly and I say, yes I am giving up. There is a provision in that, I am not giving up at all. But one is prepared to give up, in case India leaves its stated position also.
Dr Prannoy Roy: Right. If this formula is agreed to you, you will give that up, basically.
General Musharraf: Both sides, listen, I believe when you are negotiating and you go for peace, it means what? It means compromise. Otherwise you can't have and you canââ¬â¢t go for a solution of a problem.
What do you mean by compromise? Compromise can never take place if you don't step back. Compromise inherently means stepping back by both sides. So inherently, both sides have to give up their positions and step back. If one of us is not prepared to step back, we will not reach a solution.
Dr Prannoy Roy: If India does accepts this, you will step back and give up those demands.
General Musharraf: Yes, we will have to.
Independence for Kashmir
The Pakistani President also made it clear that once Pakistan gives up its claim to Kashmir, the four-point solution is not a negotiating step towards getting independence for Kashmir.
He added categorically that self-governance or autonomy is not the first step to Kashmir's independence.
Dr Prannoy Roy: When you talk about self governance of Kashmir, we won't not go into the details that we will leave the bureaucrats andââ¬Â¦
General Musharraf: Yes, legal side legal...
Dr Prannoy Roy: Are you then saying, no independence for Kashmir?
General Musharraf: Yes, we are against independence.
Dr Prannoy Roy: You are against independence?
General Musharraf: Absolutely, and so is India.
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NEWS/newsrf.php?newsid=7844
and that four points were self-governence on both sides for Kashmiris right to which India is not willing to agree 
