November 14, 2004 in Nation/World

India says it’s willing to consider formal proposals on Kashmir

Ashok Sharma Associated Press
 

NEW DELHI – India will consider any formal proposal from Pakistan to settle their decades-old dispute over Kashmir, the Himalayan region at the center of two wars between the nuclear-armed neighbors, a top Indian official said Saturday.

“If such a formal proposal is made, we will certainly look at it,” External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh told reporters.

Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan but both claim it in its entirety. Last month, Pakistan President Gen. Pervez Musharraf suggested making some areas of Kashmir independent, or placing it under joint Indian-Pakistani or U.N. control.

India initially reacted coolly because the plan was announced at an iftar – the traditional sunset meal breaking the daylong fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan – with reporters present.

“As the prime minister (Manmohan Singh) said recently in the Hague … a proposal made at an iftar or through the media really can’t be accepted as a formal proposal,” Singh said.

Musharraf said later that his remarks were merely intended to start a debate on resolving the dispute.

Pakistan welcomed Natwar Singh’s statement that New Delhi was ready to consider a Pakistani proposal to settle the Kashmir issue.

© Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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