The US has welcomed Pakistan President's Pervez Musharaff's reported willingness to give up his country's claim on Jammu and Kashmir, if Kashmiris were assured autonomy. But Washington said any solution to the issue should have the people's backing.
"These are welcome comments and certainly we have encouraged both the sides to come together to resolve what has been a thorn in the side of their relationship for many, many decades," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said on Thursday.
"Whatever the solution is, certainly, the people of the region need to have a voice in it, however the two sides choose to resolve it," he added.
Asked if Washington still wanted to interview AQ Khan, father of Pakistan's atomic bomb who also ran a nuclear Wal-Mart on the side, now that the disgraced scientist was seriously ill, McCormack said, "I think everybody wants to have a full appreciation of all of his activities."