Tuesday, September 13 2005 14:02 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New York: Pakistan has said that the US would continue to support progress in the Indo-Pak peace process and affirmed its help in the settlement of all outstanding issues, including the 'important' Kashmir issue.

Briefing reporters after a 75-minute meeting between visiting President Pervez Musharraf and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice here yesterday, Foreign Minister Khurshid M Kasuri said the US has evinced keen interest in the meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Musharraf tomorrow (Sept 14, 2005) and said it will help the two countries resolve their differences amicably.

Rice showed interest in the September 14 meeting between Musharraf and Singh and "told the president that the US is interested in helping out India and Pakistan in resolving their differences peacefully," he said.

For his part Musharraf told Rice that Pakistan would do whatever was required to improve bilateral relations with India, Kasuri said.

"He explained recent contacts between Pakistan and India as part of the composite dialogue to Rice and emphasized the need for the resolution of the Kashmir issue. Rice told the president she believed that this is a very important issue and encouraged the two neighbouring states to continue the composite dialogue," he said.