'US driving India-Pak peace process'

Yasin Malik, chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, the former militant leader turned peacenik, currently on a US tour, said continuing behind-the-scenes US mediation was driving the peace process between India and Pakistan.

Malik, whose visit included a talk at the part Congressionally-funded US Institute of Peace in Washington, told rediff-India Abroad that "The peace process is driven of (US) efforts. When you say international efforts, it means the US."

The United States, has consistently declared that its policy on Kashmir is that it's a dispute that has to be resolved bilaterally between India and Pakistan, 'taking into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people.'

The Bush administration as well as previous administrations have said they have no intention of playing a mediation role unless both sides (New Delhi and Islamabad) request it. Although Pakistan, and particularly President Pervez Musharraf has over the years, been imploring the US to play such a role, and bring pressure to bear on India, New Delhi has made clear it will brook no foreign interference, but would welcome facilitation.

Malik said when asked if he would favour the US playing a mediation role or even aggressively pushing for a resolution to the Kashmir problem, "There are certain sensitivities involved in this matter, (but) mediation is going on. But they do not want to own (up) to it."

When told he was being overly diplomatic, the former militant, who by his admission said "I started the gun movement in 1988," said, "You are right, I am diplomatic in this answer, and I want to be diplomatic because there is so much sensitivity about this."

"The first principle of a peace process," he said, "is that all concerned parties must not say something which will embarrass another party."

When pressed on whether he still wants independence for Kashmir, Malik was circumspect, saying, "We want a negotiated settlement. It demands flexibility from all three parties. That solution must be acceptable to India, Pakistan and the Kashmiri people. Only then can we achieve the breakthrough in Kashmir."

But finally when asked what ultimately is his dream solution for Kashmir is, he said, "My dream solution is an independent Kashmir."