Released by PML (N) Central Information Secretary Muhammed Siddique-ul-Farooque At a press conference in Islamabad on October 12, 2004

Pakistan's principled position on Kashmir used to be endorsed by the United Nations and friendly countries. The people, therefore, were convinced that the issue would be resolved sooner or later in accordance with UN resolutions, and the state of Jammu and Kashmir would become the fifth province of Pakistan. Nawaz Sharif also tried hard to achieve that goal. He held talks with four Indian Prime Ministers, and the nuclear tests were also part of that endeavor. The result of his efforts emerged in the shape of Lahore Declaration. But General Pervez Musharraf sabotaged that process with the Kargil misadventure. He then took a complete u-turn on Kashmir after he usurped power on October 12, 1999.

During the five years of his rule, General Musharraf yielded to the Indian demand of resolving the Kashmir issue without reference to the UN resolutions. He accepted the Indian accusation of terrorism in Occupied Kashmir during his meeting with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Islamabad on January 6, 2004, and gave an undertaking in writing that "he will not permit any territory under Pakistan's control to be used to support terrorism against India". He already declared unilateral ceasefire along the Line of Control to allow India erect an iron fence along the Line. The fence has now been completed. On July 12, 2004, Musharraf's Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, and later official spokesman Sheikh Rashid, negated Quaid-e-Azam's pronouncement, and declared that Kashmir was not Pakistan's jugular vein. As a result of this policy of Musharraf administration, Pakistan has been deprived of the support from not only world community but also from its faithful friends. India, on the other hand, has not only moved ahead on the diplomatic front, but has also strengthened its position on the Line of Control. It continues to insist that Kashmir is its integral part, and refuse to bring the issue on dialogue table. The Musharraf administration has been practically following Indian diktat in the name of CBMs. Meanwhile, it continues to hoodwink the people of Pakistan with sham assurance of not entering into any deal.

It should be made clear, that Pakistan Muslim League (N) wants a resolution of the Kashmir issue, but it must be an honorable solution on basis of equality, and in accordance with the Lahore Declaration and UN resolutions. It does not want a solution like General Musharraf's, who would yield to Indian dictation and throw Kashmir in India's lap like a ripe fruit. It must be recalled here that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had chosen an honorable course. The Lahore Declaration signed on February 21, 1999, by Nawaz Sharif and Vajpayee, and Vajpayee's speeches at Shalimar Garden and Minar-e-Pakistan are evidence of that fact.

In view of the steps taken by General Pervez Musharraf during past five years, we are justified to believe that he is going to sacrifice the interests of Pakistan and the Kashmiri people in order to protect and prolong his unconstitutional rule, and practically hand over Kashmir to India. Like Yahya Khan lost East Pakistan, the way to fall of Kashmir is being paved at the hands of General Musharraf.

Following is a summary of the measures that Pervez Musharraf has adopted during past five years to hand over Kashmir to India:

1. The seven-point agenda that Pervez Musharraf announced in his speech on October 17, 1999 did not include the issue of Kashmir.
2. In that speech, five days after usurping power, he also unilaterally declared recall of Pakistani troops from forward positions that amounted to his first retreat against India.
3. Throwing national dignity to winds, and as opposed to policies of elected governments, he begged over a hundred times for talks with India resulting in weakening of Pakistan's position.
4. As a result of his repeated pleas, and US intervention, India invited Musharraf to Agra on July 15, 2001. There, despite talking of forgetting history and changing mindsets, he failed to get even the slightest concessions with regard to Kashmir, and returned without even a joint communiqué. The failure led to increased pressures, and he agreed to follow Indian diktat.
5. In the meeting with Indian Prime Minister on January 6 after the SAARC Summit, he admitted to the false accusation that Pakistan had been sending terrorists to the Occupied Kashmir. Then he assured in the joint statement that "he will not permit any territory under Pakistan's control to be used to support terrorism against India".
6. Later, when asked whether he had raised the Kashmir issue during his talks with the Indian Prime Minster, Pervez Musharraf said that Kashmir was a contentious issue and he did not want to destroy the cordial atmosphere of talks. Evidently he sacrificed Kashmir at altar of goodwill.
7. He then announced on national and international forums that UN resolutions would have to be set aside to solve the Kashmir problem. That was a complete retreat from UN recognized legal position of Pakistan, and consequently our friends abandoned their support to Pakistan on the Kashmir issue.
8. Prime Minster Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, under instructions from General Musharraf, declared unilateral ceasefire on the Line of Control on November 23, 2003. The India leadership welcomed the decision and said that it would help them complete the fence along the line. That was another retreat by General Musharraf, because he accepted the Line of Control as practically an international border.
9. It was also under the directive of General Pervez Musharraf that Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain declared that Kashmir was not the jugular vein of Pakistan. Later, Musharraf government's spokesman and Minister of Information Sheikh Rashid repeated Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain's statement in October 2004, when he returned from US visit with General Musharraf.

Despite General Musharraf's complete retreat form the cause of Kashmir, unmistakable deviation from national position, and his obsequious attitude toward Indian leadership India has once again hardened its stance with demands of more concessions. It probably wants Azad Kashmir also, because, according to Indian Foreign Minister Natwar Singh, entire Kashmir, including Azad Kashmir, is integral part of India.

We are afraid that if General Musharraf remains in power any longer with his defeatist mentality and extreme psychological pressures, he might deprive Pakistan of Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas as well.

The above facts amply prove that the interests and security of Pakistan is totally unsafe in the hands of General Musharraf. If we want to ensure the security of the country, to consolidate national integrity, to follow the Constitution and solve all problems, including Kashmir, strictly in accordance with national interests, then removal of Pervez Musharraf from power is imperative.