(a) whether the President of Pakistan has put forth any fresh proposals for improvement of Indo-Pak relations including resolution of Kashmir issue;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government in this regard?
(a) whether the President of Pakistan has put forth any fresh proposals for improvement of Indo-Pak relations including resolution of Kashmir issue;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI PRANAB MUKHERJEE)
(a) & (b) In an interview to an Indian news channel in December 2006, President
Musharraf made certain proposals on Jammu and Kashmir, which were similar to proposals
made by him earlier. These included identification of the area to which these proposals
would apply, making the Line of Control irrelevant, demilitarisation, self-governance
and joint management.
(c) The issue of J&K is being discussed between India and Pakistan within the framework
of the Composite Dialogue. Our consistent position during the above talks has been that
Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and the settlement of the issue of Jammu
and Kashmir can be achieved through dialogue. Any demilitarisation or re-deployment of
security forces within the territory is a sovereign decision of Government of India
based on our own assessment of prevailing security situation. Jammu and Kashmir already
enjoys autonomy under the Indian Constitution and has in place a democratically elected
government.