Saturday, June 4 2005 15:04 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: As Kashmiri separatist leaders from India arrived in Islamabad today (Jun 4, 2005) for talks with the Pakistani leadership, President Pervez Musharraf described their visit as of "great political significance" and said it was a recognition of the "disputed status" of Kashmir by the two countries.

Musharraf, who left on a three-day visit to the UAE and Qatar shortly before the separatist leaders flew in here (Islamabad) by helicopters from Muzaffarabad in PoK, said their visit was "a very important confidence building measure."

"At the same time," he said, "It has great political significance because they have not come on Indian passports and visas issued by Pakistan."

"So, it is the recognition of the disputed status of Indian-held Kashmir by both the countries," the official APP news agency quoted him as telling the media at the Chaklala airbase prior to his departure.

"This is a great leap forward in understanding flexibility being shown by the both sides," he said, adding this should now lead to discussion for the resolution of the Kashmir issue. "The option is open - we hope that it leads on to that."

Musharraf is expected to meet Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and six other members of the conglomerate as also Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) leaders Yasin Malik and a representative of another Kashmiri leader Shabbir Shah. They crossed the Line of Control on June 2 to come to PoK from Srinagar.