Friday, July 1 2005 10:16 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Pakistan yesterday (Jun 30, 2005) said the frequency of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service would be increased and truck service would be permitted along the same route to promote trade in the region.

In an address to legislators of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said the country was firmly resolved to press ahead with further efforts aimed at bringing greater relief and succour to the people of Kashmir.

The frequency of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service would be increased and truck service would be permitted along the same route to promote intra Kashmir trade, Aziz told reporters, while on a day's visit to PoK.

"The improvement in atmospherics between India and Pakistan offers a unique opportunity that must be seized to resolve the Kashmir dispute in a manner acceptable to Pakistan, India and most importantly the Kashmiri people," an official News Agency quoted him as saying.

"Towards this end, President General Pervez Musharraf has already put forward the idea of demilitarisation of Kashmir in a phased manner. This would be a pre-requisite for ascertaining the wishes of the Kashmiri people," he said.

Asserting that the recent Hurriyat leaders' visit to PoK and Pakistan was the culmination of the Government's efforts to initiate a "wide-ranging" consultative process on Kashmir, he said, "We assured them that Pakistan will continue consulting the true representatives of Kashmiri people in attaining a just and lasting solution of the Kashmir issue."

Aziz ruled out accepting Lin of Control (LoC) as a solution to resolve Kashmir issue but at the same time asserted that current India-Pakistan peace process is irreversible and flexibility, courage and open mindedness was required to arrive at a solution that satisfied India, Pakistan and Kashmiris.

Any solution to the Kashmir issue should satisfy all the three parties, India, Pakistan and Kashmiris, Aziz said.

"The peace process is irreversible and we will have to show flexibility courage and open mindedness" to arrive at a solution.

"While firm in our resolve in extending moral and political support to the people of Kashmir for their right 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.

The recent visit of Hurriyat leaders was a part of Pakistan's effort to involve them in the dialogue process, he said.

Aziz visited Chakoti, the last point of the LoC on the Pakistan side, as well as the 'Aman Sethu' (Peace Bridge) constructed to enable the passengers of Kashmir buses to cross over every fortnight. He also briefly boarded the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and greeted the passengers.

He was accompanied by Information Minister Sheikh Rashid, who had initially planned to travel to Srinagar by yesterday's bus but had to drop his plans after India declined to grant him permission following allegations that he ran a military training camp for militants in his farmhouse.