Islamabad: In his first policy speech, Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani today said "wishes and aspirations" of the Kashmiri people will be taken on board while resolving the Kashmir issue and their "sacrifices" will not go waste.

Gillani's comments were in sharp contrast to the ruling PPP chief Asif Ali Zardari's recent remarks expressing readiness to set aside the Kashmir issue to focus on other aspects for improving relations with India.

Gillani's statement reinforced Pakistan's long-standing position on Kashmir and was an indication that he favoured third party involvement to resolve the vexed issue, a move strongly opposed by India, which wants the problem to be settled bilaterally.

Addressing the National Assembly, lower house of Parliament, after securing its unanimous backing, Gillani said confidence-building measures on Kashmir would be effective only if the long-standing issue is settled in line with the "wishes" of the Kashmiri people.

"On this occasion, I want to assure our Kashmiri brothers and sisters that their sacrifices will not go waste," he said.

"We will take forward the process to settle the Kashmir issue but CBMs will be effective only when the issue is perceived as being resolved according to the wishes and aspirations of the Kashmiri people."
Source : PTI