NEW DELHI, September 8 (IslamOnline) - India and Pakistan have finally been moving towards a breakthrough on Kashmir, reported the influential Times of India on Sunday, September 8.

In a nutshell, the settlement is based on the conversion of the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir to an international border. This was first leaked by The News, an important Pakistani daily newspaper, which said on September 1st that President Musharraf during his forthcoming meeting with President Bush will discuss "a strategic headway for Kashmir solution" based on acceptance of LoC as border, barring Pakistan-based Kashmiri groups from interferring in India's internal affairs, withdrawal of Indian claim on the Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Northern Areas.

India, too, is willing to accept the package and forgo its claims on the Pakistan-administered Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas which are part of the erstwhile princely state of Jammu & Kashmir whose Maharaja acceded to India in 1948.

The New had said, quoting sources believed to be disgruntled military officers who are not pleased by the new scheme, that "a formula for crucial shift from the present stance on Kashmir and related issues enjoying support of a strong lobby of generals, politicians, cabinet members, strategists and experts in Pakistan had been formed into a package" for Pak-U.S. talks during the forthcoming visit.

This package, the Pakistani newspaper said, was expected to invite a tirade from influential circles that want continuation of the traditional stance on Kashmir, notwithstanding the perils of such a policy, some of which were of immediate nature given the Indian impatience with what they call "continuing intrusion". The News disclosed that top level consideration was being given in Washington to this package.

America's own strategic interests that are believed to be behind this package come in the backdrop of certain developments which include the U.S. Marines-led chase of Al-Qaeda and Taliban remnants in the tribal areas of Pakistan along the Durand Line.

The News added that recent statements issued by U.S. policy-makers on the issue have revealed their intentions that they are going to make their stay in the region longer than initially perceived and, for this purpose, they need some mini garrisons in close but safer areas for logistics and operational purposes.

The Pakistani newspaper went on to say that the U.S. would be seeking Pakistani cooperation that included provision of a base in the Northern Areas [which is part of the Pakistan-administered Kashmir but not part of Azad Kashmir], most probably in Skardu.

The "bargain," according to The News, provides for recognition by both countries of the LoC as a permanent border; withdrawal of India's widely asserted claim on the Pakistan-administered Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas, and, as a consequence, Islamabad's agreement to make it clear to the Kashmiri groups that holding elections in Kashmir was an internal issue of that country.

Such a sequel of agreements conceived by the three sides also involved a request from the U.S. for a base in Skardu for U.S. forces to conduct operations against terrorist outfits, and for the long-term safeguarding of U.S. interests in the region, The News said.

Both Indian and Pakistan spokesmen were quick to deny this report although it was observed that Pakistani government took no action against the newspaper which was most likely if the report was false in view of the limited press freedom available there.

The Times of India today, September 8, quoted "official sources" here as saying that the Vajpayee government has agreed to accept the LoC as the international border provided certain conditions are met with by Pakistan. These conditions are: Pakistan will not claim or demand any more land in Kashmir after the agreement and it will stop proxy-war and terrorism in India.

The Times of India added that the U.S. is putting pressure on Musharraf to mention this proposal in his forthcoming UN speech next week. It is also believed that Pakistan is unlikely to accept the proposal without demanding its "pound of flesh" from the deal, which could come in the form of sops for Kashmir.

Both U.S. and UK are keen that bilateral talks between PM Vajpayee and President Musharraf begin on the issue during the visit of the two heads of State to the U.S. next week. But India would like to hold talks with Pakistan only after the J&K polls are over peacefully.

India wants to make haste slowly. It will start shortly, perhaps within this month, with sending back the Indian ambassador to Pakistan. If the J&K polls pass off peacefully, a non-official bilateral talks will begin next month. This will lead to the simultaneous withdrawal of the armies of both the countries from the borders. Thereafter, during the bilateral talks it will be agreed to turn the LoC into the international border.

The Times of India disclosed that the powerful cabinet committee on security has discussed the proposal at length and most of the CCS members have endorsed it as realistic. J&K chief minister Farooq Abdullah, a long-time advocate of this, has expressed his support to the PM.

The Vajpayee government has told Powell and Straw that India can accept this proposal provided Pakistan accepts it and is willing to fulfil India’s demands of giving up any further claims to Kashmir and putting an end to the proxy war against India. Once the agreement is signed, the border will be properly demarcated and delineated.

After these disclosures, it is not surprising that as part of Track-II diplomacy a pro-India Pakistani elder statesman, Aslam Khattak, will be visiting India shortly to hold talks with the Hurriyat Conference in Delhi and most probably will also visit the Valley of Kahsmir. Khattak is member of the Pakistani senate and president of the National Awami Party.

Nasim Zehra, an influential member of President Pervez Musharraf-nominated Pakistan National Kashmir Committee (NKC) has already held talks with Kashmir Committee chairman Ram Jethmalani and senior separatist leader Shabir Shah in Delhi early this month on the Kashmir issue.

President Musharraf had given a hint to the forthcoming change in his policy towards Kashmir when he said on the BBC on September 6 that he is ready to be "flexible" to resolve the Kashmir issue with India but maintained that the vexed problem could be solved only if the two countries displayed "pragmatism" and "flexibility." General Musharraf had justified his coup against Nawaz Sharif precisely on these grounds - showing flexibility on Kashmir.

"I think if there is pragmatism and flexibility on both sides, certainly there are solutions which can be acceptable to both," Musharraf said in reply to a question in BBC's 'Question Time Pakistan' program.

It is expected that President Musharraf will unveil his new plans in his speech before the UN General Assembly on September 12. "The President would be making a very important statement at the UN General Assembly on Kashmir," foreign office spokesman Aziz Ahmed Khan told a media briefing in Islambad on September 2.

Indian analysts believe that conversion of the LoC into an international border will be beneficial to India. Says K Subhramanyam, defence analyst, "This is a concept that was emphasised during the Shimla conference between Indira Gandhi and Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.

It was again brought into prominence during the Kargil conflict when President Bill Clinton said that a solution to the border problem should be found in the terms of the Shimla Pact. Clinton in a joint communiqué with Nawaz Sharif further said, "You do not change boundaries with blood."

IK Gujral, former Prime Minister of India said "Both the countries will have to be prepared to give up something in order to come to this solution. India will have to cede claim to PoK and Pakistan will have to do the same for J&K."

The Kashmiris on this side of the border will not be happy. "What do the Kashmiris stand to gain by accepting the status quo that was agreed upon in the Shimla Pact?" Said Mirwaiz Maulvi Umar Farooq, of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference.