Leave stated positions: General

8216;8216;We have been playing this blame game in the past but let8217;s leave it in the past,8217;8217; he said. Musharraf said that he had never said anywhere that 8216;8216;we need to have a Kashmir agreement before anything else.8217;8217; 8216;8216;I have always maintained that we should move simultaneously on all issues. The problem before was that Kashmir was never included8230; Now there is a change. For the first time, the joint statement issued by India and Pakistan in Islamabad recognises Kashmir is a dispute to be resolved. It recognises that Pakistan is a party to the dispute. So, this is the source of my optimism.8217;8217;

Asked to clarify on Pakistan8217;s position on plebiscite in Kashmir, Musharraf said: 8216;8216;No unilateral action can be taken. I have been saying that we must go beyond stated positions and show flexibility. But it can8217;t be done unilaterally by Pakistan. So, there is reciprocity involved.8217;8217;

Asked how he will persuade India that he will not allow Pakistani territory to be used by 8216;8216;jehadi8217;8217; groups to cross the LoC, Musharraf said: 8216;8216;I never said we crossed the LoC8230; Let8217;s close this chapter.8217;8217; He also noted that after his meeting with Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee, confidence-building measures are going on. 8216;8216;The two foreign offices are interacting to decide on the venue, the date and the level of the contact.8217;8217;