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K J M Varma in Islamabad
Terming as "farcical" the forthcoming Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, President Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday said Pakistan should not be held responsible for the failure of the polls there.
"Pakistan cannot accept any responsibility for developments inside Kashmir. Nor can India try to shift the onus of the failure of elections to Pakistan," Musharraf said in his address to the nation after hoisting the Pakistani flag on the 55th Independence Day.
He alleged the proposed polls in J&K were yet another "mask" given by India to justify its "occupation" of the Valley.
"Pakistan position on this issue is based on UN Security Council resolutions. Elections cannot be a substitute to free and impartial plebiscite under the UN auspices," he said in his address at the Convention Centre, an unusual venue for independence day celebrations.
"Pakistan supports the principle struggle of people of Kashmir for the right of self determination, since long promised to them by the international community. This struggle...can never be compromised," he said.
Musharraf also rejected as "self serving," India's argument that peaceful elections in J&K was a test of Pakistan's sincerity to hold dialogue with New Delhi to resolve the Kashmir issue.
Musharraf said the Hurriyat Conference, which he described as a "credible voice" of Kashmiris, has rejected the elections to the J&K assembly.
PTI
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