Thursday, June 30 2005 20:32 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Emphasising the need for "meaningful and constructive" dialogue to resolve bilateral issues, Pakistan today (Jun 30, 2005) described the peace process with India as "irreversible" and said "flexibility, courage and open mindedness" were required to settle the Kashmir problem.

Addressing legislators at the PoK Council in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, who was on a day's visit to the capital of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), said Islamabad's stand to resolve the Kashmir issue through dialogue with India was widely appreciated all over the world.

Any solution to the Kashmir issue should satisfy all the three parties, India, Pakistan and Kashmiris, Aziz said, asserting that, "The peace process is irreversible and we will have to show flexibility, courage and open mindedness" to arrive at a solution to the problem.

"While firm in our resolve in extending moral and political support to the people of Kashmir for their right to self determination, Pakistan has always emphasised the necessity of creating a climate for peace and stability and resolution of differences and disputes through meaningful and constructive dialogue," he said.

Pakistan, he said, has however "made it clear" that it cannot agree to any proposal aimed at converting the existing Line of Control (LoC) into permanent border.

Aziz also praised President Pervez Musharraf for entering into the peace process with India and for his "untiring efforts" to continue with it.

"The positive development which we are witnessing today would not have been possible without the courageous, determined and sincere efforts by President Musharraf.

"It was due to his initiatives that the Composite Dialogue Process was resumed in January last year and the dialogue process offered a valuable opportunity for all of us. It was his proposal that ensured ceasefire along LoC which still continues to hold," Aziz said.

He also said the recent visit of the leaders of the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference to PoK and Pakistan was part of Musharraf's "untiring efforts."

Aziz said Kashmiris were the main party to the Kashmir issue and they should be its main beneficiaries too.

The visit of the Kashmiri separatist leaders was part of Pakistan's effort to "involve" them in the dialogue process, he said, adding, "We assured them Pakistan will continue consultations with the real representatives of Kashmiri people."

Aziz's address was attended among others by PoK President Gen (Retd) Anwar Khan, PoK Prime Minister Sikendar Hayat and several Pakistani ministers, including Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed.