*Jethmalani lauds Musharraf’s four-point formula for Kashmir issue, terming it a ‘wonderful document which should be the basis for a permanent solution of Kashmir’
Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP, eminent lawyer and chairman of Kashmir Committee Ram Jethmalani on Saturday said the Indian Army’s presence in Indian-held Kashmir (IHK) should be “terminated as soon as the terror stops”, the Times of India reported.
“Army’s presence should be terminated as soon as possible. But let the terror stop, I am sure army must go,” he said.
Interestingly, his remarks come on the same day the Indian Army admitted making a ‘mistake’ by shooting dead two teenagers in Indian-administered Kashmir. In regard to this, he said the army personnel involved in the tragic incident “should be dealt with according to the law”.
The teenagers died after soldiers fired at a car on the outskirts of Srinagar on Monday, while another youngster was critically wounded.
He said the case should be investigated as to ascertain what led the Indian armed forces to resort to the firing, saying, “If they did that intentionally, there should be severe punishment…they should be hanged”.
Jethmalani praised former president Pervez Musharraf’s four-point formula for the Kashmir issue, terming it as a “wonderful document which should be the basis for a permanent solution of Kashmir,” and said Musharraf had gone to India with a “firm and honest intention” to solve the crisis.
He went on to say that the former dictator’s “efforts were ‘frustrated’ by India” and that the document’s purpose was that of both sides of Kashmir having a secular democracy.
Jethmalani, aged 91, claimed to have made changes to Musharraf’s document which the former dictator, who is currently on the Exit Control List, accepted.
“I have been working for Kashmir for a long time and Musharraf knew. He sent his proposal to me through a common friend,” said Jethmalani — who was expelled from BJP earlier this year.
He suggested that a formal body comprising statesmen – and recognised by both countries – be constituted to “see to it that people are not exploited by these governments.”
The expelled BJP MP said not all the freedom fighters he was in touch with were ‘Pakistan agents’, adding that they may have been pro-Pakistan at some point, but not anymore. “I am glad to tell you that majority of them want to be with India”.
