The solution that Indian Govt. is coming up with as a solution to the Kashmir problem is to grant more autonomy to the state based on the Kashmir Autonomy Report.
While rejecting Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s recent formula on Kashmir, India has proposed a “self rule” and “open borders” to both parts of Jammu and Kashmir. The proposal put forward here unofficially by the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) has set a flurry of activity within the government.
Officials here on Friday were busy dusting off the ‘Kashmir Autonomy Report’, passed by the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly in June 2000, but later out rightly rejected by the previous Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.
“Dr Manmohan Singh is in a fast mode of firming up his own Kashmir solution to counter the Musharraf formula with maximum autonomy to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and an eventual “borderless” Kashmir by pressurizing Pakistan to give similar autonomy in their part of Kashmir,” sources in the PMO here said. Also China will be made to come around to revive silk routes between Kashmir, Tibet and Xinjiang that could generate prosperity in the region.
During his visit to Delhi on November 23, Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz is supposed to officially convey the proposals floated by President Pervez Musharraf through the media. Dr Manmohan Singh has, however, foreclosed any consideration of such proposals by asserting that there would be no redrawing of the international boundaries or realignment of regions that smacks of communal dimensions.
India has the benefit of the autonomy report prepared by the Kashmiri experts and adopted by the state assembly to move fast in this direction, the sources pointed out. They said it is not necessary for New Delhi to agree on everything in the report but it will be the basis for starting a process of political discussion. India is keen that the Supreme Court, the Election Commission and the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) continue to have jurisdiction over Jammu and Kashmir. [India proposes ‘self-rule,’ ‘open borders’ in both Kashmirs]
