Qazi hopes talks will begin constructive process

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JUNE 4. The Pakistani High Commissioner here, Mr. Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, today expressed the hope that the proposed meeting between the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, and the Pakistan's Chief Executive, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, would mark the ``beginning of a constructive process''.

``Scepticism may be justified but it should not be pushed to cynicism. There will be difficulties in resolving issues but a productive engagement will lead to the resolution of all issues,'' he said participating in a panel discussion, organised by the Indian Women's Press Corps.

Mr. Jehangir Qazi said the most important issue was Kashmir. ``Any solution of the Kashmir problem should be acceptable to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Solutions which are not based on the will of the people are not stable,'' he said.

He hoped that the Vajpayee-Musharraf meeting would discuss the ``modalities of representation of the people of Jammu and Kashmir'' and that the summit would lead to a sustainable dialogue leading to a solution of the Kashmir tangle.

To a query if Pakistan was responsive to conversion of the Line of Control (LoC) into International Border (IB), he said: ``Our perception is that the LoC is in conflict with the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. We want a settlement that is verifiably acceptable to the people.''

He said that India had invited Gen. Musharraf for talks as there was need for a dialogue between the two countries. ``It does not mean that you can resolve all issues in one meeting. A process of dialogue has to be generated and it will lead to a productive engagement.

``It will generate goodwill and the presence of dialogue will move forward. The meeting will also provide an opportunity for the two leaders to get to know each other,'' he said.

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