The Indian opposition Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday questioned Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on his claim that a resolution of the Kashmir issue was “almost arrived at” between India and Pakistan, and asked him to divulge details of the failed solution.
“What was this possible resolution on Kashmir? The people of India are entitled to know an answer to this question,” BJP leader Arun Jaitley said in an article.
The Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha hoped that India is not moving in the direction of Pakistan, which has an unfinished agenda on Kashmir, as its negotiating space on territory in the context of Kashmir resolution is negligible.
Referring to Pakistan’s view of LOC’s dilution, tripartite arrangement on Kashmir and its de-militarisation being part of this “breakthrough”, he said, “I hope the government was not working in this direction.”
The BJP leader said the PM during his press conference revealed for the first time that secret envoys from India and Pakistan had almost arrived at a meeting to resolve the conflict on Kashmir, but when a break through appeared “in sight” the then Pakistan ruler General Pervez Musharraf had to make way for others and the agreement got blocked.
“Since the prime minister for the first time informed the nation that a resolution on Kashmir was almost agreed to, it is eminently desirable that he takes the nation into confidence of what the specifics he had in mind about the failed solution,” he said.
He said that even for history to make assessment of prime minister’s tenure, these details would be of immense help.
Addressing press conference on Friday, Singh replied to query about reports that India and Pakistan were on the verge of a historic deal on Jammu and Kashmir, “I have tried to improve relations with all our neighbours to the best of my ability and on one time it appeared that important breakthrough was in sight.”
“Events in Pakistan for example that General Pervez Musharraf (former president) had to make way for a different set up. I think that led to the process not moving further….”