Saturday, May 21 2005 09:35 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: A powerful international relations committee in the US Congress has passed a resolution praising India and Pakistan for "monumental steps towards a comprehensive peace agreement," and called upon the two countries to continue down this path towards a harmonious future.

The International Relations Committee of US House of Representatives passed House Resolution 272, introduced by Texas Democrat Shiela Jackson-Lee and co-sponsored by 26 other Legislators on Wednesday (May 18, 2005), which congratulated India and Pakistan "on taking monumental steps toward achieving a comprehensive peace agreement".

Recognising the "historic steps taken toward achieving bilateral peace", 'The India-Pakistan Peace Resolution' also applauded Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Pervez Musharraf for their leadership in bringing their two nations together.

It called upon both India and Pakistan "to continue down this path of peace so that their children may realise a harmonious future".

The resolution tracing in detail the history of rapprochement between the two countries, beginning from the first formal talks in February 2004 to the April 18, 2005 "historic three day summit" in India when Singh and Musharraf "held meaningful talks on all issues, including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir", and came to a series of agreements to boost trade and cross-border travel.

"I want to thank the Members of the House International Relations Committee, especially Chairman Henry Hyde and Ranking Member Tom Lantos for supporting this effort to recognize the ongoing peace process between India and Pakistan," said Congresswoman Jackson Lee.

"The steps taken by President Musharraf and Prime Minister Singh are indeed monumental in the history between these two great nations," she said.

"Both leaders recognize that peace cannot be achieved in a day, but by building social and political ties to each other, a final peace cannot be deterred," she added.