A week ahead of the India-Pakistan talks in Islamabad, the former National Democratic Alliance’s Kashmir interlocutor and eminent lawyer, Ram Jethmalani, said on Sunday that the four-point formula of the former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf was the most applicable solution to resolve the Kashmir issue. India lost a golden opportunity in not accepting it and it was time now to move forward on Gen. Musharraf’s formula.
“His formula was the most applicable solution to resolve the Kashmir issue. However, due to some wicked politicians, the process couldn’t be carried forward,” Mr. Jethmalani said.
The jurist was speaking at the Peace Conference here, where senior BJP leader and Union Minister for Minority Affairs Najma Heptullah also spoke. The conference was organised by the Jammu-Kashmir Peace Foundation headed by BJP leader in Kashmir Fayaz Ahmad Bhat.
Mr. Jethmalani, who was expelled from the BJP last year, said: “Time has come when both countries should work on Gen. Musharraf’s formula.” He called it a difficult but possible job. The jurist welcomed the Foreign Secretary talks and lauded Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit.
While Ms. Heptullah found problem with the invitation by the Pakistan High Commissioner to Kashmiri separatist leaders ahead of the August 25 talks, Mr. Jethmalani saw no objection to it.
Mr. Jethmalani told reporters that the Kashmir Committee, an organisation headed by him which was not in the news over the years, was fully alive and working for the resolution of Kashmir issue. The committee was formed in 2002 during Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s leadership to open channels of dialogue with Jammu and Kashmir’s separatist leadership. Senior lawyer Shanti Bhushan, BJP spokesman M.J. Akbar and Madhu Kishwar were the other members of the committee.
