Musharraf govt agreed to soften stance on UN Kashmir resolutions: cable

WASHINGTON: A secret US document on Friday revealed that the government of former military dictator Pervez Musharraf had agreed to show flexibility in its stance on Kashmir-related resolutions as proposed by the United Nations in an attempt to improve relationship with India in year 2000.

According to a cable sent from US embassy Islamabad to Washington, the foreign minister of Musharraf's government, Abdul Sattar had held a two-hour long one-on-one meeting with the then US envoy Thomas Pickering in May 2000.

The US document quoted Abdul Sattar as saying that Pakistan would not push for honouring the resolutions passed by United Nations on Kashmir issue. Both the leaders had agreed to take Kashmiris on board to resolve long-standing Kashmir issue.

The cable further revealed that Abdul Sattar had told Pickering that Pakistan would support the stance of Hurriyat leaders, saying consultations with Kashmiris would not harm the interest of his (Sattar’s) country.

Abdul Sattar further told the US diplomat that Pakistan and India would come closer through independent trade and economic ties.