Author: PTI
Publication: Yahoo News
Date: March 12, 2008
URL: http://in.news.yahoo.com/pti/20080312/r_t_pti_wl_asia/twl-pak-army-committed-to-kashmir-issue-91c08d1.html
The Pakistan Army is committed to the Kashmir
issue "in line with the aspirations" of the country, army chief
Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani said today. During a visit to forward locations near
the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir, Kayani "highlighted
the national consensus that exists on the Kashmir issue".
Kayani "reaffirmed the commitment of
the Pakistan Army to the Kashmir cause in line with the aspirations of the
Pakistani nation", said a statement issued by the military. Kayani's
comments came in the wake of Pakistan People's Party co-chairman Asif Ali
Zardari's remarks that India and Pakistan should not let their relations be
held hostage to the Kashmir dispute.
Zardari also said the two countries could
set aside the Kashmir issue to be resolved by a future generation while they
focussed on trade and other aspects of their ties. Since he was appointed
as army chief by President Pervez Musharraf in November last year, Kayani
has taken several steps to separate the army from politics.
The army chief, who has barred senior officers
from meeting politicians, recently said his force would "stay out of
the political process". Addressing officers, junior commissioned officers
and non commissioned officers during his visit to positions near the LoC,
Kayani also said "it is always the valiant and professionally sound military
commander who leads his men from the front" and this "proves decisive
in challenging situations".
