Karachi: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf will discuss the Kashmir issue with US leadership during his official visit to Washington next month, the country's Foreign Minister said on May 10.

Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri told reporters in the Southern port city of Karachi before his departure for New York that Pakistan looks forward to a meaningful discussion on the long-standing conflicts in South Asia.

"Pakistan looks forward to the US to solve South Asian disputes including Kashmir," Kasuri said, adding that the President's visit would also focus on financial assistance and improving trade opportunities for the country.

He expressed confidence that Musharraf's June 16-18 visit would be successful in promoting peace and security in the region.

Kasuri said Islamabad had conveyed to US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage during his visit to Pakistan that talks between Islamabad and New Delhi must be serious and without any preconditions.

"We told Armitage that India should not set any preconditions (for initiation of dialogue) as that will cause the peace process to derail in the end," he said.

Kasuri will hold talks with National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice and State Department officials and Congressmen, a Foreign Ministry statement said.