Friday, February 4 2005 20:11 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Sounding positive about the progress of Composite Dialogue process with India, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf today (Feb 4, 2005) said a lasting peaceful solution to the Kashmir issue can only be found through "dialogue and engagement."

"Pakistan believes that a just and lasting solution to the Kashmir dispute can only be found through a process of dialogue and engagement. It is with this resolve and purpose in mind that we embarked on the composite dialogue process with India last year," Musharraf said.

In a message on the eve of the Kashmir Solidarity Day to be observed tomorrow all over Pakistan, he said, "our effort was and continues to be, to engage in a meaningful and result oriented dialogue to seek a peaceful, negotiated and final settlement to the Jammu and Kashmir dispute."

He said Pakistanis observe Feb 5 as Kashmir Solidarity Day "to demonstrate our unequivocal support for the Kashmiri people to achieve their right of self-determination."

The day was aimed at reaffirming Pakistan's support for Kashmiris "endeavours to decide their own future freely, as promised to them by the international community through the UN Security Council resolutions, without the threat of coercion," he said.

The solidarity day is a national holiday and Pakistan Prime Minister, Shaukat Aziz will address the joint sessions of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) Assembly and Council, which was called Ajad Jammu and Kashmir Council in the PoK capital Muzaffarabad.