Saturday, February 25 2006 19:00 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: US President George W Bush has said he has "started to play a role" in resolving the Kashmir issue by calling for a solution agreeable to all parties and emphasised the need for "tangible progress" on the issue.

Bush, who will be visiting India and Pakistan next week, said he would use his upcoming trip to urge the leadership of the two countries "to continue solving this (Kashmir) issue, with the idea that it can be solved."

"I started to play a role in my speech and spoke out on the issue and encouraged the President (Pervez Musharraf) and Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh) to continue down the road of solving the issue with a solution acceptable to all sides," Bush told sources in an interview when asked what role he planned to play during his visit to resolve the Kashmir issue.

Bush was referring to his speech two days ago at Asia Society in Washington where he urged India and Pakistan to look for a bilateral solution of Kashmir issue acceptable to all sides. Bush arrives in Islamabad on March 3 on a two-day visit.

"You might remember an early time in my presidency, there was real tension. And now, all of a sudden, there's some very encouraging signs - new transportation opportunities, trade," he said.

Bush said that in his discussions with Singh and Musharraf in the past both had a "Different attitude and part of it has to do with trust, but there's got to be tangible progress. I recognise that."