Musharraf146;s policies harmed Kashmir issue, says Sharif

Sharif, whose PML-N party is a key member of the ruling coalition, told the delegation led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq that the government headed by him in 1999 had also backed the Kashmiris and asserted that peace in the region is impossible without the amicable solution of the Kashmir dispute.

Sharif also rejected President Pervez Musharraf8217;s policies on Kashmir, saying 8220;these policies have harmed the issue8221;.

He said that his government was moving towards resolving the Kashmir dispute when a 8220;dictator took over8221; and the process was halted.

The Hurriyat team, which is visiting Pakistan at Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi8217;s invitation for consultations with the country8217;s top leadership, met Sharif at his residence at Raiwind here and left for India.

At the Lahore airport, Farooq said the visit was very successful. The Pakistan government and political parties gave the Hurriyat their full support, he said.

Besides Sharif, the Hurriyat team met Pakistan People8217;s Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.