Sunday, April 16 2006 10:32 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Srinagar: Asserting that India-Pakistan ties have improved, former Pakistani Foreign Secretary Mir Humayun Khan has said the ongoing dialogue process between the two countries was an opportunity for resolving the Kashmir issue as per the 'wishes of people of undivided Jammu and Kashmir'.

"People-to-people contact between the two countries have improved the ties between New Delhi and Islamabad and it is an opportune time to find a solution to the Kashmir issue as per the wishes of the people of the undivided Jammu and Kashmir," he said while interacting with the activists of J and K Forum for Regional Voices here last evening.

The Forum, which in collaboration with Delhi-based Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation organised a two-day 'intra-Kashmir dialogue' at Jammu on April 12-13, hosted a reception for the Pakistani delegation here last evening.

However, no mainstream politician or separatists barring a representative of Democratic Freedom Party Mohammad Abdullah Tari, were present at the reception.

Khan, who was part of the 12-member delegation from Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir that took part in the deleberations, said, "The ongoing peace process is a serious and sincere effort."

"This time there is change of hearts in the public of both the countries. Public opinion has changed in both India and Pakistan and a realisation has come that the main party to the Kashmir issue, the Kashmiris, should be listened to," Khan, who served as the Ambassador of his country in India for five years, observed.