Friday, April 29 2005 15:11 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kozhikode: The ongoing peace process between India and Pakistan should continue as there was "total consensus" among people in both the Countries for ensuring lasting peace and reconciliation in the sub-continent, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed said today (Apr 29, 2005).

"Trust begets trust.... No one expected that we will reach this stage where we have started running bus services between both the countries. This peace process should go ahead as it is done according to the will of the people on either side," he told a meet-the-press, organised by the Calicut Press Club in Kozhikode.

Asked if India believed that the peace talks would reach its logical end given the firm stand adopted by both the Nations on the Kashmir issue, he said, "Everything will not happen in one go. We are also aware that both of us can't concede beyond a point. But, it is very essential that the process is allowed to continue."

"Leaders of both the Countries want peace. Even the former Pakistan Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto has welcomed the bus service," he said, adding though some challenges were bound to come in the way, the peace process should go unhindered.

On involving the Hurriyat Conference in the peace talks, the Chief Minister said so many offers had been made to them for an unconditional dialogue. "They had a good word of advice from Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf also and it appears that they are also willing to join the dialogue," he said.

"That Musharraf met former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Chairperson, Sonia Gandhi during his recent visit shows that there is a total consensus on the matter from both the sides," he added.