Monday, September 12 2005 19:59 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New York: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said he would like to move forward the peace process with India, especially on the Kashmir issue, at his September 14 meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, which he described as of "great importance."

"I look forward to meeting with the Prime Minister of India, and that I think it is of great importance," Musharraf told Pakistani reporters on his arrival here (New York) yesterday (Sep 11, 2005) to participate in the UN General Assembly meeting.

He said he would like to move forward the peace process with India especially on the "key dispute" of Kashmir at the meeting of the two leaders.

Musharraf will address the summit, to be attended by some 175 heads of state/government at UN Headquarters, on September 14. Singh is scheduled to arrive here Wednesday and address the Assembly on September 15.

Responding to questions, Musharraf said his address to the American Jewish Congress on September 17 is also "extremely significant".

"I would like, in my own way, try to convey the ground reality and the need to move forward on the creation of a Palestinian state".

It will be the first time that a Pakistani head of state will address the American Jewish community and this has created a controversy back home.

On his comments on US State Department official's testimony in a Congressional hearing on Friday that Washington would not enter into a civil nuclear cooperation pact with Pakistan like the one with India, he said, "We would like to have similar treatment on the issue which concerns Pakistan as well as India. That is our desire. But that is not topping my agenda."