ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said on Thursday that the resumption of the India-Pakistan composite dialogue was a positive development and would give the two countries another opportunity to resolve their outstanding disputes.

The Prime Minister said this during a farewell call on him by the outgoing Indian High Commissioner Shivshankar Menon, reported the Associated Press of Pakistan.

Mr. Aziz said the Havana meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Pervez Musharraf augured well for an amicable settlement of issues between the two countries. He talked of a settlement of the Kashmir issue, in line with the wishes and aspirations of the Kashmiri people, would bring lasting peace to the region and emphasised the need to make efforts to resolve other bilateral issues such as Sir Creek and Siachen through a dialogue.

He also spoke of the need for an early conclusion of the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline, calling it vital for the growing energy requirements in the region.

Mr. Aziz and Mr. Menon also discussed the new initiatives launched by India and Pakistan in Havana to take the peace process forward, with the Foreign Secretary-designate expressing the hope that the soon to be set up anti-terror joint mechanism would live up to its promise. Mr. Menon had a meeting with President Pervez Musharraf earlier this month, before the General departed on his long foreign tour.

Vindication of position

Separately, addressing a seminar at the Institute of Strategic Studies here, Mr. Aziz said the resumption of the dialogue was a "vindication" of Pakistan's position.

Responding to questions, he spoke of Pakistan as a responsible nuclear power that had acquired the capability for its defence through credible deterrence as Indian nuclear weapons posed a threat to Pakistan's security.

He said the Indo-U.S. agreement on nuclear cooperation was of concern to Pakistan as there was a possibility it would allow India to produce more fissile material, and thereby, more nuclear warheads.

The Prime Minister said Pakistan had also proposed strategic restrained regime in South Asia to build trust between Pakistan and India. At the same time, he said "we believe in the level playing field and non-discriminatory approach to the use of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes under the appropriate international safeguards."

Committed to peace process

The Foreign Ministry in a release here said the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir met on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly Session on 20th September 2006.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri told the meeting that Pakistan was fully committed to the peace process and the composite dialogue with India, it said.

Mr. Kasuri said a solution of the Kashmir issue must be acceptable to Pakistan, India and to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He expressed the hope that after the Havana meeting between the leaders of the two countries, there would be a forward movement towards the settlement of the Kashmir issue.

According to the statement, OIC Secretary General Ekmeledin Ihsanoglu said the resolution of the Kashmir dispute remained the core issue for full normalisation of relations between the two neighbours and for reducing tension in the region. He said alleviating the sufferings of the Kashmiris would remain a matter of priority for the OIC.

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