Kashmir accord coming soon: Musharraf told US in 2007

WASHINGTON - In early 2007, then Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf told top US Congressional leaders that an agreement with India on Kashmir is coming sooner than anyone might think”, leaked US diplomatic cables reveal.

Soon — sooner than anyone might think, Musharraf told a Congressional delegation that included Speaker Nancy Pelosi and chairmen of the House Foreign Affairs and Armed Services Committees, Tom Lantos and Ike Skelton.

Talking to the visiting Congressional leaders in Islamabad Jan 27, 2007, Musharraf said he and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh were on the verge of an agreement on Kashmir and this could be signed as early as April that year.

Musharraf appreciated Dr. Singhs flexibility, relating his personal invitation for the President to attend the SAARC Ministerial in New Delhi in April, the cable said.

Musharraf explained his decision to decline the invitation, saying that there is too much euphoria and expectation at present. If I went to Delhi, but we didnt sign an agreement, the people would think we had failed.

Musharraf said that he has conveyed two options to New Delhi: either PM Singh comes to Pakistan before April to sign an agreement or the two hold a signing ceremony at the SAARC Ministerial, the cable said.

Musharraf shared his enthusiasm for a just-concluded visit to Pakistan by three Jammu and Kashmir leaders of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, noting that he had advised them to engage and bring on board other Kashmiris.

An agreement should not land like a bombshell… Leaders must prepare their publics, as he is doing in Pakistan, he said.

(Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in)