It was ironic to see the exclusion of the Kashmir issue from the on-going Indo-Pak composite dialogue and it seemed that the talks were based on the Indian agenda.
Abdul Qayyum Khan, a former Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) president and prime minister, expressed these views while addressing a seminar organised by 'Kashmir Centre', Lahore, on 'Kashmir Issue' here on Saturday.
He said that the Kashmir dispute is the core issue between India and Pakistan and it should remain that way, otherwise the dispute would stay unresolved. "Moreover, no solution would be acceptable by the Kashmiris unless it has their approval and other avenues other than the UN resolutions should also be sought for the settlement of this outstanding issue, as Kashmiris' lives in Occupied Kashmir (IOK) were at stake," he added.
"General Musharraf is well conversant with the dispute and we should give him the time and space so that he can take the Kashmir issue to its logical conclusion. In fact, he has shown maturity in dealing with the dispute with the neighbouring country," he opined.
Qayyum said he feared that there was a possibility that after the settlement of the Kashmir dispute, Afghanistan-like situation might surface in the Valley. "This possibility needs to be examined in detail and a strategy must be formulated to overcome these fears," he added.
He advocated free movement of the Kashmiris between Azad Kashmir and IOK, and added that for this the Kashmiris must be issued travelling documents by Saarc.
According to him, without Pakistan there would be no solution to the Kashmir dispute. Thus, it was imperative to strengthen the country by creating discipline and optimism among the citizens, and focus on resolving internal problems.
Other speakers who spoke on the occasion were Bushra Rahman, MNA, Muhammad Yaqoob Khan, AJK Health Minister, Shahbaz Ahmad, PML Vice President, Pervaiz Ahmad, a member of All Parties Hurriyat Conference, and Mirza Sadiq of Kashmir Centre Lahore.