Islamabad: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said that there can be no headway in the confidence building measures (CBMs) to improve ties with India without the resolution of the Kashmir issue.

"While we are working both on dialogue and CBMs with India, Kashmir is the main dispute, which must be resolved. Until there is a progress towards its resolution, there can be no headway on CBMs or other issues," he said addressing Army officers at the concluding ceremony of the Army war games 'Sabit Qadam-III' in Islamabad last night (Jul 22, 2004).

Musharraf's comments come ahead of his scheduled meeting with the Indian External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh today (Jul 23, 2004).

Asserting that Pakistan wanted peaceful resolution of all issues with India including Kashmir, he said maintenance of credible, conventional and strategic deterrence was the cornerstone of Pakistan's national security strategy.

"We shall not only maintain it (the policy of deterrence) but also enhance it further," an official statement quoted Musharraf as saying.

He also assured the participants of the war games that balance of power in the region would be maintained and needs of modern hardware, weaponry and technology of the three services would be met.