Musharraf calls for truce along LoC

Former chief minister of Bihar, Laloo Prasad (C, in white, holding a book) and other member of an Indian delegation pose for photographers in front of a portrait of Pakistan's founder Quid Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah inside the Parliament House of Pakistan in Islamabad yesterday. The 60-member Indian delegation including some 30 legislators arrived here August 9, representing the largest goodwill mission to visit rival Pakistan since bilateral relations started thawing in April. Photo: AFP

"Unilaterally, ceasefire has two connotations. Ceasefire on the LoC where we are firing at each other daily. Daily there are casualties on both sides. There ought to be a ceasefire on the LoC," Musharraf told Indian journalists at a tea hosted by him for Indian Parliamentarians and journalists.

Claiming that there were six lakh Indian troops in Kashmir where "atrocities" were being committed, Musharraf sought reduction of forces in the state following which "one could attempt to facilitate and encourage ceasefire inside Kashmir."

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He said "reciprocity should be in the form of stopping of atrocities, reduction of forces, allowing political activities and travel freely... These are elements of reciprocity and confidence building."

Asked about India's concerns on Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism, he said, "There is no no government sponsoring of cross-border terrorism on the LoC or across the LoC. Whatever is happening in Kashmir is freedom struggle."

At the same time, he said, ceasefire cannot be unilateral as it is not feasible or practical.

On the possibility of his talking with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the Pakistani General said "I have no ego problem. I can pick up the telephone to him. Prime Minsiter Jamali did ring up Vajpayee. Yes, if it serves the purpose I can think of it."

He, however, felt that there should be no humiliation if he called up and there was no response from the Indian leader.

IANS adds: Parliamentarians and opinion makers from India and Pakistan ended a two-day Track-II here with feelings of bonhomie running high and members of both countries rooting for amicable solutions to all bilateral disputes.

At the end of the conference late on Monday, a 'Sense of the Pakistan-India Parliamentarians, Journalists and Experts Conference on Confidence-building and Conflict-resolution' document, which encapsulated the meet, was also issued.

At least 153 parliamentarians, experts and journalists from the two countries attended the conference arranged by South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA), one of the few meetings where so many leading Indians and Pakistanis interacted.

Members of at least 15 political parties were part of the Indian team.