LET KASHMIR DECIDE:

India Offers Plan to Ease Kashmir Split: As Pakistan's president visits, Premier Singh proposes additional bus service and meeting points for families along the Line of Control. (Paul Watson and Mubashir Zaidi, April 17, 2005, LA Times)

India proposed seven steps to improve ties across the heavily fortified front line dividing Kashmir on Saturday as Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf made his first visit here since a bitter summit four years ago.

Musharraf is set to hold talks on the Kashmir dispute and other issues with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today after attending a cricket match between the two nations' teams in the Indian capital.

India's proposals include setting up several meeting points along the divide to reunite families, increasing bus service and communication links, renewing trade and taking steps to promote tourism in the long-disputed territory, two-thirds of which is controlled by India.

Musharraf's response is expected in his meeting with Singh today, after which the leaders plan to issue a statement, Indian officials said.

It's not as if the subcontinent can realistically remain just two states anyway.

Posted by Orrin Judd at April 17, 2005 6:41 AM