Demanding "total" pullout of troops from Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan has warned of continued activities by 'jihadi' groups if "there is no tangible move forward" on resolving the vexed issue.
Pakistan's Kashmir Affairs Minister Tahir Iqbal also said that President Pervez Musharraf's four-point formula to resolve the Kashmir problem was "not the final proposal" and "there might be a better proposition for arriving at a mutually acceptable solution of the Kashmir dispute."
"Nevertheless, President Musharraf has provided valuable suggestions to end the 60-year-old dispute and bring about peace between the two countries that would lead to overall peace and prosperity in the region," he said in an interview to Pakistan Observer newspaper.
Also, he said, 'jihadi' organisations should have to be associated with the dialogue process between Pakistan and India. He, however, did not name any specific groups.
Pakistan-based militant groups active in Kashmir included Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Muhammad.
"If India moves forward towards the solution of Kashmir dispute, there is no reason why the 'jihadi' organisations should not end their operations to seek independence from India," the Pakistani minister said.
{{/usCountry}}"If India moves forward towards the solution of Kashmir dispute, there is no reason why the 'jihadi' organisations should not end their operations to seek independence from India," the Pakistani minister said.
{{/usCountry}}"At the same time if there is no tangible move forward towards solution of Kashmir dispute, the 'jihadi' organisations would again resort to armed struggle to get the right of self-determination," Iqbal, a retired Major, said.
He also said that India "must" pull out its forces from Kashmir in "totality" and come to some sort of understanding to arrive at a solution to Kashmir issue that is acceptable to all stakeholders. Such a move on part of India would certainly lead to peace in Kashmir and a just and honourable solution to the issue, he said.