Kashmir is ruining economy, says Musharraf

Kashmir is ruining economy, says Musharraf
AGENCIES

JAKARTA, MARCH 30: Pakistan's visiting military ruler General Pervez Musharraf said today that the Kashmir conflict is keeping South Asia in grinding poverty, and indicated his government would forego requests for outside mediation and deal directly with India.

Musharraf, in Indonesia on the third leg of a South-East Asian tour of five nations, reiterated that he is ready to hold direct talks with India to resolve the issue of Kashmir.

The Pakistani ruler has already visited Malaysia and Singapore during the tour and is scheduled to depart on Friday for Brunei. It was also announced today that he will visit Thailand over the weekend.

``I and my government are for peace in the (South Asia) region for the sake of (an) economic uplift of the region,'' the general said during a joint news conference with Indonesian President Abdur Rahman Wahid.

``I'm prepared to meet anybody at any level at any time to address this core issue of Kashmir,'' Musharraf said.

Asked whether Pakistan would stop requesting mediation by the United States or other countries, he said: ``I am prepared to address the Kashmir issue whether it's through bilateral relations (with India), or through mediation, or through facilitation, or through whatever word you want to use.''

During a speech in Singapore earlier today, Musharraf said Kashmir ``cries out for a just and fair solution''.

Musharraf's regional trip is widely viewed as an attempt to get endorsements for his military takeover of Pakistan last October, although he has failed so far in that mission.

``Don't think it (the visit) is a legitimisation,'' Wahid said. ``He leads a country, he comes to another country. There's no problem with that.''

The general will fly to Brunei tomorrow, and then onto Thailand, a last-minute addition on Thursday to the Pakistani leader's schedule, according to Thai government officials in Bangkok.

World leaders, including US President Bill Clinton, have urged Pakistan to set a date for new elections and the installation of a democratically elected government. They have warned that Pakistan faces further diplomatic isolation.

They have also urged direct dialogue between Pakistan and India, historic enemies that now have nuclear weapons.

New Delhi: India today brushed aside Gen Musharraf's renewed offer to resume dialogue with New Delhi, asserting that there was no change in its position.

Asked about Musharraf's remarks made during his visit to Singapore, a foreign office spokesman said, ``There is no change in our position, in our substance or nuance.''