ISLAMABAD: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf flew off to Turkey and Iran on Kashmir Solidarity Day, with the words that the focus of the annual event had shifted from confrontation to reconciliation.

But on the streets of the capital on Monday, the Jamaat-e-Islami and its friends marked the day by denouncing his Kashmir proposals and peace talks with India, and in defiance of a Government ban, collected funds for "jihad-e-Kashmir."

"We are seeing some light at the end of the tunnel where we may be able to resolve the dispute for good, and for the benefit of the people of Kashmir and to give them final peace," General Musharraf told reporters at the Chaklala Air Base before his departure.

Expressing solidarity with the Kashmiri people, the President said he, the entire Pakistani nation and the Government stood by them and were endeavouring to bring peace and improvement in their lives by resolving the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.

Call to Kashmiris

He asked the Kashmiris to unite and "bring harmony in your thoughts" towards the resolution of the issue.

"I appeal to all leaders, parties and all shades of thoughts for unanimity of views and to guide us how to resolve this issue."

Gen. Musharraf said Kashmir Solidarity Day this year was different as "there is a change of focus from confrontationist stance to reconciliatory resolution of dispute... and I am happy about it".

Progress was being made towards the peaceful resolution of the dispute, he said.

In sharp contrast was the mood at a rally organised by the religious parties coalition Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, a stone's throw from the President's office.

Thousands attended the rally chanting slogans in praise of the jihad in Kashmir and expressing solidarity with Kashmiris.

MMA sees conspiracy

The Jamaat-e-Islami played the lead, with its leader, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, who is also the president of the MMA, denouncing peace talks with India as a conspiracy against the two-nation theory and against the Kashmiri people.

The JI and its political allies, the Pakistan Muslim League (N) of Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan's Tehreek-e-Insaf also used the occasion to lash out against Gen. Musharraf and the Government on all issues, from Afghanistan and Kashmir to the recent demolition of mosques in the capital.

The JI leader said while the Government was fencing and laying mines on the border with Afghanistan to cut off "our Muslim brothers," it was making friends with "Hindus" and India and preparing for a "betrayal" on Kashmir.

Collections

At the Qazi's command, several JI workers unfolded party flags to collect donations from the rallyists for the Kashmir jihadis.

"The Government has banned collections for jihadis. We will show that there are people willing to defy this ban right next to the seat of power," he said.

The "sell-out" to India was based on a "policy of fear" of the United States, Mr. Ahmed said, and condemned Gen. Musharraf for trying to "bury" the jihad that had brought the Kashmir issue alive.

"Is it not a matter of shame that only five people in Pakistan know about the Kashmir deal?" he said, referring to a recent statement by Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri to this effect.

"This is a conspiracy to finish Pakistan."

Others spoke in similar vein. A parliamentarian of the PML (N), Hanif Abbasi, condemned peace talks with India as an exercise in futility.

"We have had many peace talks with India, but to no avail. There is only one solution for the Kashmir problem - a plebiscite in accordance with UN resolutions, and if not, jihad," said PML(N) parliamentarian Hanif Abbasi.

Imran Khan, the cricketer-turned-politician, questioned Gen. Musharraf's "mandate" to resolve the Kashmir dispute.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz addressed a joint session of the Legislative Assembly and the Upper House in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, reassuring Kashmiris that no "deal" on Kashmir was on the cards, and that there could be no solution without involving them.

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