Pakistan's President Gen Pervez Musharraf was praised internationally but criticized at home yesterday for his latest peace offer to rival India, after he signaled new flexibility on the flashpoint issue of Kashmir. Musharraf said on Thursday that Pakistan was willing to look beyond a long-standing UN resolution that calls for a referendum in the disputed Himalayan region. The resolution has been the bedrock of Pakistan's Kashmir policy for half a century, but is strongly opposed by India. Some Pakistani commentators welcomed Musharraf's comments and separatist leaders in India's portion of Kashmir also saw it as a step forward. But the Islamic opposition coalition Mutahida Majlis-e-Amal, which controls one of Pakistan's four provinces and shares power in another, said any move toward dropping the resolution would be a "betrayal of Kashmiris" and "surrender before India". "Nobody has a right to change Pakistan's Kashmir policy," said Liaquat Baluch, a spokesman for the MMA, which has a strong voice in Parliament. India last night responded cautiously to Pakistan's announcement. "We have always suggested flexibility. It is Pakistan which has been very rigid. It is Pakistan which keeps talking about the centrality of that (Kashmir) issue," External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha said. "If there is any change in or modification in Pakistan's position, that is something which India will always be ready to welcome," he said. A senior separatist leader in Kashmir said Musharraf's comments opened up a third option - independence for Kashmir. "Musharraf's statement is a step forward. It allows for a new option that Kashmiris can opt for independence," Shabbir Ahmad Shah said. But Syed Salahuddin, head of Hizbul Mujahideen, the main Pakistan-based armed group fighting Indian rule in Kashmir, gave a cool response and asked Pakistan's government not to give any more concessions to India. "India has not made even one millimeter of change in its stance over Kashmir. In such a situation what is the rationale behind giving them more and more concessions?" he said. **PHOTO CAPTION*** Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf. (AFP/File/Kim Jae-Hwan)