Dialogue on Kashmir to start in February
Islamabad (AsiaNews) Pakistani President Parvez Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee of India, said they will start talks next month to resolve their differences, which include the bitterly divisive issue of the Kashmir region. The following is the full text of the joint statement made by the two leaders. It was issued today, at the end of the regional summit in Islamabad [Saarc, South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation]. The Kashmir dispute has been going on for decades, since 1947. In 2002 India and Pakistan came close to an all-out war.
"The President of Pakistan and the Prime Minister of India met during the SAARC summit in Islamabad.
The Indian Prime Minister, while expressing satisfaction over the successful conclusion of the SAARC summit, appreciated the excellent arrangements made by the host country.
Both leaders welcomed the recent steps towards normalization of relations between the two countries and expressed the hope that the positive trends set by the CBMs (confidence-building measures) would be consolidated.
Prime Minister Vajpayee said that in order to take forward and sustain the dialogue process, violence, hostility and terrorism must be prevented.
President Musharraf reassured Prime Minister Vajpayee that he will not permit any territory under Pakistan's control to be used to support terrorism in any manner.
President Musharraf emphasised that a sustained and productive dialogue addressing all issues would lead to positive results.
To carry the process of normalization forward, the president of Pakistan and the Prime Minister of India agreed to commence the process of the composite dialogue in February 2004.
The two leaders are confident that the resumption of the composite dialogue will lead to peaceful settlement of all bilateral issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, to the satisfaction of both sides.
The two leaders agreed that constructive dialogue would promote progress towards the common objective of peace, security and economic development for our peoples and for future generations."
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16/02/2004
