Tuesday, April 19 2005 09:56 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The political class cutting across ideological divides yesterday (Apr 18, 2005) gave thumbs up to talks between Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saying it would further strengthen the peace process between the two countries.

Congress hailed as a "significant step forward" the joint statement by India and Pakistan at the end of Musharraf's visit saying it would further the process of normalisation of relations.

Party spokesman Anand Sharma, referring to the several decisions taken during the visit, told reporters that the party hoped that a "new era of all-round cooperation" would emerge between the two countries.

He said that there has been a "change in environment" since the Congress-led coalition came to power at the Centre eleven months ago.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) expressed satisfaction at the outcome of talks between Manmohan Singh and Musharraf and hoped they would lead to 'concrete measures'.

"That the whole process, which was initiated by previous National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government and the joint statement in 2004, is moving forward is a matter of gratification," BJP president L K Advani told reporters in Kolkata.

The BJP chief said that the Vajpayee Government had taken the first step towards normalisation of relations between the two countries last year. "President Musharraf and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has furthered this peace process and we hope that concrete measures will be taken," he added.

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said the Indo-Pak joint statement would help further strengthen bilateral relations and expressed the hope that "the successful talks would mark a new beginning in bilateral relations".

The Communist Party of India (CPI) and Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) said the joint statement reflected the "sincerity of desire of both sides to carry forward the peace process and efforts to further strengthen Confidence-Building Measures (CBM) would go a long way in cementing the process.

Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet welcomed the joint statement of and appreciated the statesmanship shown by Singh and Musharraf to continue serious and purposeful dialogue to resolve contentious issues.

The Cabinet, which met in New Delhi yesterday afternoon under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, noted with satisfaction that the CBM initiated by the two countries for restoration of peace and normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir have had a very healthy impact.