The Hindu : National : Kasuri stresses centrality of Kashmir

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Sep 07, 2004

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National

Kasuri stresses centrality of Kashmir

By Our Diplomatic Correspondent

NEW DELHI SEPT. 6 The Pakistan Foreign Minister, Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, today stressed the "centrality" of the Kashmir issue and claimed this was not to suggest that Pakistan was only interested in discussing Kashmir. Calling upon India to recognise that there were differences on Kashmir, he said that this was the "only guarantee" to solve these problems.

At a joint press interaction with his counterpart, Natwar Singh, Mr. Kasuri said the "very concept" of the composite dialogue envisaged that there should be progress on all the eight items listed for discussion. Mr. Kasuri appeared pleased at the success achieved in having experts address both conventional and nuclear confidence-building measures.

In response to a question, Mr. Singh said the two countries did not have an agreement on some "difficult" and "old" issues — but the composite dialogue would go on. Calling for "progress" on the oil-gas pipeline, he also pointed out that there had been elections in Kashmir and a Government was in place there.

"Nevertheless, we are discussing the Jammu and Kashmir issue frankly, in candour and respecting each other's views on this. This will not hold up progress in all other areas as the Foreign Minister of Pakistan has said ... this process will continue," Mr. Singh added.

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