Mumbai May 17, 2003: The Indian Liberal Group welcomes Prime Minister Vajpayee’s initiative in seeking to restore a dialogue with Pakistan. It is also statesmanlike in that he has set no preconditions for the talks to begin, and that he is agreeable to the easing of tensions one step at a time.

However the bone of contention is Kashmir and any deals with Pakistan cannot be at the cost of the people of Kashmir. The Liberal position is very clear. Basing their belief on the right of people everywhere for self-determination and on the sanctity of assurances, the ILG upholds the right of the Kashmiris to decide their future on the one hand and for the Government of India to keep promise by the then Government of India to hold a plebiscite to ascertain the will of the Kashmiri people. The plebiscite should be held on both sides of the line of control. If the Pakistanis refuse then we should go ahead and hold it in that part of Kashmir under our control...

The ILG if firmly of the view that this is a matter between the Government of India and the people of Kashmir, and Pakistan has no locus standi in this dispute. The choice before the people of Kashmir ought to be either to ratify the instrument of accession signed by the then Maharaja of Kashmir or opting for a sovereign independent state of Kashmir. In the latter event their external security must be guaranteed by the Government of India. If Pakistan follows suit so much the better.

With Kashmir out of the way, we can then work out a ‘road map’ for the formation of a Confederation of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

This is what the ILG stands for. A position we believe is legally and morally correct.