Gilani says Kashmir issue holds key to durable peace in region

Claiming that the Kashmir issue holds the key to durable peace in the region, Pakistan Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani today sought a "constructive and purposeful" dialogue with India to resolve the problem.      

"Pakistan remains committed to finding a just and peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions and aspirations of the Kashmiri people," Gilani said addressing a meeting here.     

Expressing Pakistan's "political, moral and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri people for their right to self determination," he said the issue must be resolved peacefully.     

"Pakistan would like to engage in a constructive and purposeful dialogue with India to resolve the issue," the Pakistan Prime Minister said.     

He claimed that the Kashmir issue "holds the key to durable peace in the region" and said that it must be resolved through "sincere dialogue" in order to open up vast opportunities for the socio-economic development of the South Asian region.     

His comments came days after the Congress-led UPA government assumed office for the second five-year term in India.

Pressing for a resumption of the composite dialogue between India and Pakistan, Gilani listed the Srinagar- Muzaffarabad bus service and commencement of cross-LoC trade as Kashmir-related confidence building measures implemented during the past few years.      
"Following the Mumbai incident, India has put a pause on the composite dialogue. Pakistan has stressed the need for engagement and resumption of the composite dialogue.      

"We have pressed upon India that focus of the efforts of the two countries should remain on countering terrorism which is the real issue and not mutual recrimination," Gilani said.      

Gilani hoped that the peace process would resume soon and "become result-oriented in addressing all outstanding issues, including J-K".