Musharraf U-turn on independence bewilders Kashmiri separatists

President Pervez Musharraf said in an interview to New Delhi Television made available late Monday that he was opposed to independence for Kashmir, and India and Pakistan would have to compromise over the disputed territory.

"Yes, we are against independence" for Kashmir, Musharraf told the Indian NDTV news channel.

The Himalayan region is claimed by Islamabad and New Delhi and has triggered two of the three wars between the rivals since 1947. The two sides have held talks since January 2004 to resolve the dispute.

Kashmiri separatists claim the former kingdom has always been a separate region, and voiced concerns Tuesday that this was not an issue in the talks between New Delhi and Islamabad.

"It is not a good thing," said Shabir Shah, a leading separatist in Indian Kashmir said of Musharraf's comments.

"Independence can be one of the options to resolve the long-pending dispute. No one should rule that out," Shah told AFP.

Shah, who has spent more than 20 years in different prisons for espousing Kashmir's independence, said only "people of Kashmir can decide what they want".

"Pakistan has maintained the Kashmir dispute will be resolved as per the aspirations of Kashmiris, and I hope there is no change in that stand," said Shah, who heads the Democratic Freedom Party.

While most moderate separatists want independence for Kashmir, hardliners and militants want to see Indian Kashmir as part of Pakistan.

"We always welcome suggestions, but what could be the final solution should be left for the people to decide," said Javed Mir of the pro-independence Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF).