JAMMU: Former Chief Minister Faroog Abdullah, who heads the pro Indian National Conference, has said the grant of internal autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir sand occupied Kashmir under the sovereignty of India and Pakistan, respectively, was the lasting solution to the 47yearold Kashmir imbroglio. He said that once it was done, the Line of Actual Control (LAC) could be converted into a permanent border between India and Pakistan. Dr, Faroog Abdullah called his “formula” the fourth option. He said already some Indian intellectuals and journalists were working on this option and some of them had discussed it with Pakistani politicians and people.

In reply to a question whether Islamabad would accept this formula when it claimed a right over the entire Jammu and Kashmir territory the National Conference President said that Pakistan had to be forced to accept it. He said in this connection, the USA’s role ‘was to pressurize Pakistan to accept the fourth option as the only practical solution to the: Kashmir dispute. The three other options independence for Kashmir, its merger with Pakistan or continuation of the state’s accession with India had already been rejected by the two countries, Dr, Abdullah, who is at the head of a campaign for setting in motion the process of reconciliation between India and Pakistan on Kashmir, said the acceptance of the 46year old division of the state as a fate accomplish was the right decision and once the Line of Actual Control was converted into ‘a permanent border both New Delhi and Islamabad could work ‘out modalities for making trade, travel and communication between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad an easy affair and remove the veil of mistrust. He said the restoration of the pre1953 constitutional status to Jammu and Kashmir could ease tension on this side of the border and Pakistan could either be motivated or circumstances may force Islamabad to sanction similar constitutional guarantees to occupied Kashmir.

When his solution was accepted neither New Delhi nor Islamabad could claim to be winners or losers.

Article extracted from this publication >>  November 11, 1994