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Pakistan harps about Kashmir again

June 27, 2004 19:10 IST

Pakistan on Sunday said Kashmiris were the "principle party to the dispute" and their aspirations have to be considered for a "viable and just solution" to the Kashmir problem.

"There is no change in Pakistan's stand... Kashmiris are principle party to the dispute and a viable and just solution has to be based on aspirations of the Kashmiri people," Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan told reporters in Delhi after the first round of Foreign Secretary-level talks.

Khan said that Kashmiris were a principle party to the Kashmir dispute, which had to be resolved keeping in view the aspirations of the people of the state.

About the talks on nuclear CBMs, Khan said both sides discussed issues related to nuclear, conventional and conflict resolution.

Khan described peace and security and Kashmir as two "clusters" between the two sides. While peace and security aspect was discussed today, Kashmir will be taken up tomorrow, he said.

He said the two bureaucrats would also be finalising the calender of meetings for talks at other levels subsequently.

Khan said that conventional confidence building measures were discussed at the meeting.

To a question, he said terrorism was not confined to India and Pakistan. It was an international scourge fought at all levels.

Noting that Pakistan's position on Jammu and Kashmir was "very well known" and it was also aware of India's position on the matter, Khan said the two sides had to "explore" ways to resolve the issue substantively.

The two sides "will discuss all dimensions of the issue tomorrow" and make the dialogue process a "result-oriented".

In reply to a question, Khan said Pakistan Foreign Secretary Riaz Khokhar utilised the "opportunity" provided by the current visit to hold talks with separatist Kashmiri leaders.

To a question on terrorism, the Pakistani spokesman said the menace was a concern for the entire world and not only India and Pakistan.

"Pakistan is making efforts to end this menace," he said, pointing out that his country had been helping at bilateral, regional and global level in this direction.


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