Pakistan indicated that it was willing to go beyond UN resolutions and take "all risks" but wanted India to show flexibility. Foreign minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri's statement to this effect on Tuesday came close on the heels of President Pervez Musharraf suggesting a new formula to settle the Kashmir issue.
While Musharraf came under attack by Pakistan opposition parties for backtracking on the Kashmir policy, Kasuri said Kashmiris have to be involved to find a solution to the Kashmir problem.
"Kashmiris hold the key as far as Pakistan is concerned. Kashmiris have veto power," he said in an interview to a TV channel.
Asked whether Musharraf's proposal meant that Pakistan was willing to go beyond UN resolutions on Kashmir and not press its demand for plebiscite, Kasuri said, "We are prepared to move. But you (India) have to also move. It can't be unilateral," he said.
Musharraf had on Monday suggested India and Pakistan could consider the option of identifying some "regions" of Kashmir on both sides of Line of Control, demilitarise them and grant them the status of independence or joint control or under UN mandate.
Kasuri said a group of people in Pakistan have rejected Musharraf's proposition and accused him of taking a U-turn on the Kashmir issue. "We are prepared to take all the risks provided we are not blamed for 'U' turn that some opposition parties in Pakistan are blaming us for," Kasuri said.
Kasuri said Musharraf's proposition should be read in the context of his statement that both sides should show flexibility.
"There has to be movement in the public", he said, adding that if there was a debate in both countries on the formula, it would help the official level talks also.
Emphasising that Pakistan wished to have normal relationship with India, he said, "In order to have durable peace, we have to get Kashmir (problem) out of the way. We have to find a solution acceptable to Pakistan, India and the people of Kashmir."
Describing Musharraf's formula as "courageous", he said when officials of the two side meet, they could go into its details. On the proposal of "joint control", he said, "If Kashmiris agree to it, anything can work."
Kasuri disclosed that several things he discussed with External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh were not made public by mutual agreement. He said Musharraf and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had hit off well during their meeting in New York last month.
Kasuri said he was hopeful that the BJP, which started the dialogue process, to continue the support. This would be discussed when BJP President L K Advani visits Pakistan, he said.