As a Kashmiri, I do not agree with Musharraf's formula on Kashmir as it was against the very foundation of Pakistan.
MELBOURNE: I congratulate this newspaper for providing space to the former president. As a Kashmiri, I do not agree with his formula on Kashmir as it was against the very foundation of Pakistan. But his strategy in the post 9/11 scenario was right, because it safeguarded the interests of Pakistan. For his Kashmir formula, he found support in Mirwaiz Umar Farooq but most of Kashmir’s columnists, writers and even undisputed Kashmir leader Syed Ali Geelani opposed the formula, calling it a betrayal of the Kashmir cause. Despite his myopic policy on Kashmir, Musharraf is an experienced man whose experience should be utilised.
I liked his analysis. I think the paper should commission him for writing a weekly column on Pakistan’s relations with India, China, Afghanistan and the US as well as on the centrality of Kashmir to Pakistan domestic and diplomatic policy.
Mehroz Siraj
Published in The Express Tribune, December 16th, 2010.
