Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto admitted today that she had ‘‘hyped up’’ the Kashmir issue during her tenure and that it had been a joint decision with the military establishment to introduce a ‘‘low-intensity’’ conflict into the Valley.

‘‘It is quite true that the Kashmir issue was hyped up and could have motivated militancy to some extent,’’ Bhutto said in answer to a question, adding, ‘‘It was a joint political and military decision to introduce low-intensity conflict into Kashmir, so as to bring the attention of the international community and resolve the situation.’’

‘‘Yes, there was a rise in rhetoric,’’ she admitted, ‘‘but after 9/11, we, in the PPP, have reviewed our stand on Kashmir.’’ — ENS