This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/6208660.stm

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Musharraf mulls Kashmir solution Musharraf pushes Kashmir proposal
(about 1 hour later)
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has said Pakistan would give up its claim on the region of Kashmir if India accepted some of his peace proposals. Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has suggested Pakistan would give up its claim over disputed Kashmir if India accepted his peace proposals.
Gen Musharraf called for a phased withdrawal of troops in the region and self-governance for the locals. Gen Musharraf called for a phased withdrawal of troops in the region and self-governance for Kashmiris.
He said he would give up the claim to Kashmir "if this solution comes up". India responded, saying its position was that the map could not be redrawn but borders could be made irrelevant.
Both nations claim Kashmir in its entirety and it has been the cause of two of the countries' three wars since independence in 1947. Both nations claim Kashmir in its entirety. It has sparked two of their three wars since independence in 1947.
A ceasefire line also called the Line of Control (LoC) divides Kashmir - Indian-administered Kashmir and Pakistani-administered Kashmir.
Gen Musharraf told the NDTV channel that he had a "four-point solution" to ending the impasse in the disputed region.Gen Musharraf told the NDTV channel that he had a "four-point solution" to ending the impasse in the disputed region.
Apart from a phased withdrawal of troops and self- governance for locals, he said there would be no changes in the borders of Kashmir and a joint supervision mechanism involving India, Pakistan and Kashmir. The Indian prime minister's position is to make the borders irrelevant, [that] we cannot redraw the map Junior Indian foreign minister Anand Sharma
Apart from a phased withdrawal of troops and self- governance for Kashmiris, he said there would be no changes in the borders of Kashmir and a joint supervision mechanism involving India, Pakistan and Kashmir.
Asked whether he was prepared to give up his country's claim on Kashmir, Gen Musharraf said: "We will have to, yes, if this solution comes up."Asked whether he was prepared to give up his country's claim on Kashmir, Gen Musharraf said: "We will have to, yes, if this solution comes up."
The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says the remarks are being seen as a message to the Indian establishment that Pakistan is prepared for bold moves if Delhi is willing to reciprocate.
Analysts in Pakistan say it is likely that resolving the Kashmir dispute would be very popular among ordinary Pakistanis and would help to isolate the president's Islamist opponents.
It would almost certainly greatly improve economic relations with India, our correspondent says - something analysts believe could help the army retain its position as the dominant power in Pakistan.
'Positive moment''Positive moment'
Reacting to the Pakistani president's proposals, India's junior foreign affairs minister Anand Sharma said India's position has been to "make the borders irrelevant".Reacting to the Pakistani president's proposals, India's junior foreign affairs minister Anand Sharma said India's position has been to "make the borders irrelevant".
"The Indian Prime Minister's position is to make the borders irrelevant, [that] we cannot redraw the map," he told reporters. It is a reasonable position - India must welcome this proposal Analyst C Raja Mohan
"The Indian prime minister's position is to make the borders irrelevant, [that] we cannot redraw the map," he told reporters.
He said India did "not want to remain in conflict" with Pakistan.He said India did "not want to remain in conflict" with Pakistan.
Analyst C Raja Mohan welcomed the proposals describing them as the "closest to India's negotiated position [on Kashmir]".Analyst C Raja Mohan welcomed the proposals describing them as the "closest to India's negotiated position [on Kashmir]".
Violence in Kashmir on Tuesday left 21 people injured"It is a reasonable position. India must welcome this proposal. It is a very positive moment shaping up between the two countries," he said. India and Pakistan have fought two wars over Kashmir
"It is a reasonable position. India must welcome this proposal. It is a very positive moment shaping up between the two countries," he said.
The South Asian rivals have been holding talks since 2004 on a range of issues, including Kashmir.The South Asian rivals have been holding talks since 2004 on a range of issues, including Kashmir.
Last month, the two sides agreed to set up a joint panel to share intelligence to help fight terrorism. Relations cooled in July when India blamed Pakistan over bombings in Mumbai in which 185 people were killed, and suspended the peace process. Pakistan denied allegations it had been involved.
India had blamed Pakistan for the Mumbai bombs of July, in which about 200 people were killed, and suspended the peace process. Pakistan denied allegations it had been involved. But last month, officials from the two sides resumed meetings and agreed to set up a joint panel to share intelligence to help fight terrorism.
In the past, Gen Musharraf has proposed steps to solve the Kashmir dispute in media interviews. This is not the first time that Gen Musharraf has made "out of the box" proposals on Kashmir in media interviews.
In January, he called for an Indian army pullout of three cities to help find a solution for the divided region. But Delhi said its army movements would not be dictated by a foreign country. And our correspondent says he has in the past expressed growing frustration at the lack of response in Delhi.
In January, he called for an Indian army pull-out from three cities to help find a solution to for the divided region. But Delhi said its army movements would not be dictated by a foreign country.
In March, Gen Musharraf told the BBC that he expected pressure from US President George W Bush for a solution of the Kashmir dispute.In March, Gen Musharraf told the BBC that he expected pressure from US President George W Bush for a solution of the Kashmir dispute.