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Is US using the Kashmir issue to try and get a permanent foothold in South Asia? Post your views

Islamabad: Pakistani Prime Minister, Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali on June 9 said that Kashmir was on top of the agenda being finalised for holding talks with India and expressed confidence that New Delhi would agree to resolve all outstanding disputes, including Kashmir through negotiations.

According to a report in ‘The News’, Jamali said, "the Indian leadership would agree to resolve all bilateral disputes in the interest of people of the two countries as well as for the sake of peace in south Asia." The paper quoted the Prime Minister as saying this in an interview with ‘Khaleej Times’. The interview was published on June 9.

On the progress of the proposed peace talks with India, the Pakistani Premier said, "I would lead the delegation from our side. The mechanics of peace talks have to be worked out......we are inching towards rapprochement step by step." He referred to the peace initiatives taken by both the countries in the recent past.

Jamali said Kashmir remained the principal issue on the agenda for talks with India.

When asked if there was US' pressure on the two countries for holding talks, he replied in the negative and said, "the well-wishers of Pakistan and India have been trying to bring the two countries to the negotiating table. There is a difference between involvement and facilitation. They have just tried to facilitate a dialogue between Pakistan and India......between myself and Vajpayee."

ANI