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Afghanistan-Pak-India
Qazi for Kashmir demilitarisation
2005-11-01
Qazi Hussain Ahmed, president of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, on Monday urged Pakistan and India to demilitarise their zones of Jammu and Kashmir and allow Kashmiris to move across the Line of Control (LoC) freely. Talking to reporters during his visit to tent villages set up in Islamabad for earthquake victims, Qazi said Pakistan and India should withdraw their forces from both sides of the LoC and the area should be declared a “non-military zones.” He said he was not supporting President General Pervez Musharraf’s view on the issue but it was his own thinking that the LoC was a “bloody line” which divided the Kashmiris. “Now is the time we allow Kashmiris to freely move across the LoC,” he said.
That'd include the hard boyz, of course...
Posted by:Fred

#4  From BBC

Indian Foreign Minister Natwar Singh said: "[Demilitarisation] can't be done unilaterally... After all, [Pakistan is] in occupation of our areas. Over-verbalising doesn't help. Every second day there is a statement from [Pakistan]."

Posted by: john   2005-11-01 12:21  

#3  Actually, under the outdated UN resolution that Pak is fond of bringing up, Pakistan is obligated to withdraw all troops from Kashmir, allowing Indian troops (amount necessary to maintain order) to take their place. Only under this condition was a plebiscite to be held (with the sole options of joining India or Pakistan). The subsequent settling of Kashmir by Punjabis and Army vets by Pakistan and itls illegal ceding of Kashmiri territory to China have made this moot.

Posted by: john   2005-11-01 10:24  

#2  "Demilitarize! ...Er....you first"
Posted by: Frank G   2005-11-01 10:09  

#1  There are Indian Army Divisions in Kashmir that are not engaged in counter insurgency. Thay face Pakistani and Chinese formations across the International borders.

Demilitarization would leave northern Indian undefended, the entire gangetic plain vulnerable to a devastating attack.
Posted by: john   2005-11-01 09:14  

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