Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's formula of self-rule and demilitarisation for Kashmir is ill conceived as Jammu and Kashmir already has self-rule, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has said.
"Musharraf's self-rule and demilitarisation formula is an ill conceived one. This kind of proposal, which dissects the territorial integrity of the country is not acceptable at all," Azad told reporters on Tuesday evening.
"Self-rule is already existing in the state and we have free and fair elections with 60 to 70 per cent people participating in them. Our representatives are elected and this symbolises our self-rule," the chief minister said.
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The state already had a separate flag and a separate constitution in this direction, he added, accusing a section of separatists of misleading people by speaking about 'greener pastures' across the Line of Control. Azad advised them to devote themselves to building a prosperous state.
"Jammu and Kashmir is more developed than Pakistan occupied Kashmir and the separatists, rather than misleading people by harping on international politics, should concentrate on the development of the state," he said.
The chief minister said people had become disenchanted with militancy. "People have realized that militancy has given them miseries, devastation and destruction," he said, adding that that state was poised towards lasting peace.