Islamabad: Favouring a "comprehensive and integrated" approach in dialogue with India, Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz today (Nov 30, 2004) said that improvement in bilateral ties was "predicated" on progress in settlement of the Kashmir issue as per the wishes of the Kashmiri people.

"We favour a comprehensive and integrated approach, whereby progress in our bilateral relations is predicated on progress towards the settlement of Jammu and Kashmir dispute in line with the wishes and aspirations of Kashmir people," Aziz said inaugurating the 5th General Assembly of the Association of Asian Parliaments for Peace (AAPP) in Islamabad.

Spotlight: Kashmir is NOT negotiable

Observing that the ongoing composite dialogue process between Pakistan and India represents the desire to strengthen the peace process in the region, Aziz said it is imperative that the process of engagement should be "sustained" to make the dialogue process "result-oriented" and "successful."

"It is our firm belief that resolution of disputes in the region and enhanced bilateral and regional cooperation will mark the beginning of an era of peace and prosperity in Asia," he said.

Around 200 Parliamentarians from 31 Asian countries, including India, are participating in the three-day General Assembly session of AAPP to discuss ways and means to promote peace, trade, friendship and mutual coordination among the member nations.

Lok Sabha member Bhupendra Singh Huda and Rajya Sabha's Shahid Siddique are representing India at the conference.

Aziz said Pakistan earnestly seeks amicable and peaceful relations with the countries in the region based on principles of mutual respect for each other's sovereignty.

The Prime Minister said democracy, development and peace are the long-awaited desires since ages and added that democratic institutions working with complete freedom and sovereignty are a prerequisite for political stability.

Aziz said democratic institutions in Pakistan are properly functioning and the people are enjoying their fundamental rights. The media, both electronic and print is also free, he added.

The conference later elected Speaker of Pakistan National Assembly Amir Hussain as new president of the AAPP.