Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf Monday proposed that India and Pakistan draw up a three-phased solution to the Kashmir dispute -- consensus, public debateand then the "final position," according to Indo-Asian News Service.

Addressing members of the Editors' Guild of India here over breakfast, Musharraf suggested Pakistan and India chalk out the broad contours of a solution to the complex issue but said, "We cannot openly bring out what we are discussing."

He said at the breakfast interaction: "The whole process needs to be discussed, what is the kind of final solution broadly we aremoving toward."

The first stage, he said, should start with a consensus amongstPakistan, India and the Kashmiris on the ultimate solution.

"We need to have to consensus on this. And at some stage we have to involve the Kashmiris," Musharraf said.

"Then we come to the second stage during which we need to generate public debate and public support towards the final objective.

"Then the third phase, declaring this is the final position," he said and added that various proposals like independence for Kashmir, self-governance, autonomy, joint control and joint management all had to be analyzed "in the broader context of what we want to do in what area."

Musharraf said all other issues between India and Pakistan - Baglihar dam, Sir Creek, Wullar barrage, Siachen - could be solved"in a second" because they had only a "small implication" to bilateral ties.

Source: Xinhua