Describing President George W Bush's statement that US supported a solution to the Kashmir problem acceptable to all sides a "positive change" in the international community's approach to the issue, Pakistan hoped the American leader's visit to South Asia would yield "positive" results.
"It is true that ultimately Pakistan and India have to find the solution (to the Kashmir issue). But President Bush's statement that the solution be acceptable to Pakistan, India and Kashmiris is the same which Pakistan and President Musharraf are saying for a long time. However, the international community's attention on the issue is a positive change," Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri said on Tuesday.
"We are hopeful that President Bush's visit will yield positive results in this regard. We want a durable peace with India, but history tells us that for this purpose, the Kashmir issue be solved. And we are trying on this count," he said in an interview to Voice of America.
A positive change should settle the Kashmir issue, he said, adding "we are trying to solve the issue bilaterally and are also engaged in the composite dialogue for the last two years."
Kasuri said, although the two countries have made enough progress in many areas like people-to-people contacts and trade, the desired progress has not been made on the issue of Kashmir.
{{/usCountry}}Kasuri said, although the two countries have made enough progress in many areas like people-to-people contacts and trade, the desired progress has not been made on the issue of Kashmir.
{{/usCountry}}However, some Kashmir specific CBMs have taken place, including commencement of Muzaffarabad-Srinagar bus service without passport and visas, the visit of Hurriyat leaders to Pakistan and interaction with Pakistani leadership. But more steps are needed in this regard, he said.