Thursday, February 24 2005 20:24 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Making it clear that the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service was no substitute for resolution of Kashmir issue, President Pervez Musharraf today (Feb 24, 2005) said India and Pakistan should show the same flexibility in settling the vexed problem as demonstrated by them in establishing a road link across the LoC.

While the agreement on the bus service was a win-win outcome for both the countries and people of Kashmir, it was no substitute for resolution of the Kashmir issue, he said during a wide-ranging interactive session with the media after inaugurating a presidential website in Islamabad.

India and Pakistan should show flexibility in the Composite Dialogue for resolution of Kashmir issue in the same spirit as demonstrated by them to resolve differences over running the bus service across the LoC, Musharraf said.

He said Pakistan has not given up principled stand asking for implementation of the 1948 UN resolutions on Kashmir but it is ready show flexibility only if New Delhi also shows reciprocity.

Replying to a question on the reported US move to provide the Patriot missile defence systems to India, Musharraf asserted that Pakistan will remain a nuclear power in all times to come.

Pakistan's Army has carried out a detailed assessment of possible threats and requirements for the 15 years in the light of the Indian Army's acquisition of sophisticated weapons systems, he said.