President seeks nation's support on Kashmir issue

27 Apr, 2005

President General Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday said the longstanding Jammu and Kashmir dispute will be resolved with the support of people and vowed that he would never let Kashmiri people and the Pakistani nation down in this regard. The President said decades-old Kashmir problem is complex and sought the nation's support on moving forward toward its resolution. "This is a complex issue, it will take a great effort to take it forward towards solution, we have to take forward the process prudently.
"I expect support from all Pakistanis in this difficult task because in full sincerity, I want to resolve this issue once and for all," he told Pakistan Television in a special edition of Roo Baroo programme, to be aired on Wednesday.
The President also dismissed any suggestions of a U-turn on the issue as utterly wrong.
"That impression is absolutely false," he stated emphatically.
In response to a question, the President said he has made it clear to the Indian leadership that the Line of Control could never be accepted as a permanent border.
Pakistan, he said, has also suffered but its economy has done well. He said recent steps have been taken to mitigate the sufferings of the Kashmiri people.
"My efforts are aimed at reducing the sufferings of the Kashmiri people," he said.
Pakistan, he said, no more faces allegations of the so-called "cross-border terrorism".

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