Monday, June 13 2005 07:35 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Pakistan yesterday (Jun 12, 2005) said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's remarks favouring conversion of the Siachen glacier into a "peace mountain" were borne out of the realisation that New Delhi has to resolve all issues with Islamabad only through dialogue.

Terming Siachen as world's most expensive war theatre, Pakistan Information Minister Shiekh Rashid said, "India has now realised that dialogue and not the war is solution of all issues, whether it is Kashmir or the Baglihar hydro power project."

The process of Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) should also be initiated in the Kashmir valley so that a better atmosphere of understanding could be created to resolve the Kashmir issue, official news agency quoted him as saying in Lahore.

"Kashmiri leadership should also hold dialogues with India and Pakistan to help resolve the Kashmir issue," he said.

Rashid said Pakistan would show flexibility on Kashmir issue if India does the same to resolve the issue. Pakistan would never accept Line of Control (LOC) as an international border, he said.

On his plans to visit Srinagar by the next Kashmir bus, Rashid said that he had already submitted an application.

Rashid said he had applied as a common citizen of Pakistan and also requested to allow one hundred journalists to accompany him during his visit there.