Islamabad: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali on May 14 denied there was any change in Pakistan's Kashmir policy in the light of recent peace initiatives by India and Pakistan and said his government would continue to extend moral, political and diplomatic support to Kashmiris' fight for self determination.

Jamali told a delegation of Jammu and Kashmir Muslim conference leaders that Kashmir issue "derived legitimacy from the UN resolutions and Kashmiris' sacrifices."

His comments came in the wake of speculation in the media that Pakistan prepared to freeze Kashmir issue in order to improve bilateral ties with India on the trade and other fronts.

Significantly, Jamali also referred to improvement of trade and economic relations with India in his address to the Pakistan Development Forum (PDF) on May 13.

He said economic development figured prominently during his telephone talk with Indian Prime Minister A B Vajpayee.

"You will be surprised to know that Vajpayee first emphasised the economic development," he said.

Stating that it is time the two countries engaged themselves in a free and frank dialogue on the thorny issues, Jamali said either "we will convince them or get convinced. I hope it would lead to a better future for the two countries as well as the entire region".

Jamali said ice began breaking after 18 months of standoff between the two countries.

"After 18 months of stalemate, both the countries have started talking with a positive approach. I hope it would be better for the future of the two countries and the region," Jamali said.

PTI