Washington: Welcoming reports that Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf was ready to set aside a demand for settlement of Kashmir issue through United Nations resolutions, the United States has said the recent confidence building measures (CBMs) undertaken by India and Pakistan will help in normalising relations.

"The United States welcomes the proposal by President Musharraf that has been reported in the press. We think it is constructive to relinquish the demand for referendum on the status of Kashmir if those reports prove to be accurate, and it seems they are," State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher said.

Musharraf told Reuters in an interview yesterday (Dec 18, 2003) that Pakistan is ready to set aside its demand for settlement of Kashmir issue through UN resolutions and favoured both sides adopting a flexible approach and meeting "halfway" for a solution.

Boucher also welcomed steps taken by both countries to normalise relations.

"We believe that engagement in confidence-building measures such as those recently adopted by both sides, move India and Pakistan towards establishing more normal relations, (and) build the momentum for peace. We are pleased by the steps that both countries have taken."

The US, he said, was also looking forward to the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) summit in Islamabad in January.

PTI



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