Zardari for troop reduction in J-K, proposes eco zones

ISLAMABAD: Following up on Pakistan's commitment of working for "grand reconciliation" with India, the ruling Pakistan People's Party today made two proposals - reduction of army's presence in Jammu and Kashmir and creation of economic zones along the Indo-Pak border.

The PPP, however, suggested that any cuts in the army's deployment in Jammu and Kashmir could be compensated by India through deployment of more paramilitary forces and police which would be "more humane" and help in addressing the "60-year-old wound" of the Kashmir issue.

"We would appreciate the de-escalation of Indian troops in Kashmir and bringing normalcy in Kashmir. The army by design, wherever it is, by its nature is crude - whether it is your army or any other army," PPP Chairman Asif Ali Zardari said in a wide-ranging interview.

Zardari, who led the party to victory in the February 18 elections after his wife Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in December last year, responded to questions on the Kashmir issue, Indo-Pak composite dialogue process and the controversy over reinstatement of judges.

The PPP chief said his "model for India-Pakistan relations" is to create economic zones along the border, use Pakistan's coal reserves in Thar to generate power that could be exported to India and even acquire gas from "friendly Muslim countries" that could be supplied to India.

Zardari said Pakistan could act as a "force multiplier" for India's economy through increased cooperation in key sectors like energy.
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