Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said today (Oct 12, 2004) his country and India and should press ahead with confidence-building measures and work towards establishing mutual nuclear restraint and conventional arms balance.

Speaking in Islamabad at a banquet in honour of visiting Mauritius Prime Minister Paul Berenger, Aziz said, Pakistan was committed to the sustainability and success of the dialogue process between Pakistan and India.

"It is important for Pakistan and India to continue to develop confidence-building measures and work towards establishing, mutual nuclear restraint and conventional arms balance," he said.

He said Pakistan and India were engaged in a composite dialogue process that encompasses all issues including Kashmir.

"Meaningful progress towards a final settlement of Jammu and Kashmir, in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiris, is critical to the sustainability and success of the dialogue process, he said adding, "We remain committed to this process.

Referring to the recent meeting between President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New York, he said it as very "encouraging".

Aziz said the dividends of peace between India and Pakistan would be enormous and can open vast opportunities for progress and prosperity for one-fifth of the humanity in South Asia.