May 15, 2003	Thursday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 12, 1424

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NEW YORK, May 14: Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri on Wednesday expressed optimism over the resolution of the Kashmir dispute, saying that chances of an agreement between India and Pakistan were better than ever before.

Talking to Dawn at the residence of the Pakistan’s ambassador here after presiding over the special session of the UN Security Council, Mr Kasuri said: “Both India and Pakistan have come to the realization that war will not solve any disputes between the two countries.”

Describing his “gut feelings” in this regard, Mr Kasuri said that after the last year’s massive mobilization of the Indian troops, there had been a growing realization in large segments of the Indian population, like in Pakistan, that war was not an option for resolving the Kashmir issue.

He said that after the recent attack on Iraq, Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had, perhaps, come to the conclusion that the two South Asian nations should sort out their mutual difference if they were to avoid the threat of any external intervention and pressure.

Mr Kasuri recalled Mr Vajpayee’s reference to Iraq in his April 18 speech in Srinagar where he had announced steps towards normalization of relations with Pakistan.

He also expressed his surprise over the involvement of the international community, saying that he had met with the foreign ministers of Iran, Afghanistan, China, Russia, Germany, France, Japan, Canada and the United States during the past “four or five days,” adding that they felt that the peace process should continue.

“The international community is very (much) involved. That is why, when you asked me about my gut feeling ... I will say I am optimistic,” he asserted.

“At least Pakistan would do nothing to queer the pitch,” he held out an assurance.

He reiterated the offer to India to become a “partner in contraction” of the oil and gas pipeline through Pakistan, saying that such a pipeline could lead to the creation of a powerful lobby in both countries.

Before leaving for Washington, Mr Kasuri met former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger.

Anwar Iqbal adds from Washington: Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri said: The Kashmir issue, he said, was not about terrorism.

He was talking to Dawn at the Pakistan Embassy at a ceremony to confer Hilal-i-Pakistan on Senator Sam Brownback.

“It’s about the right to freedom of a people who have been denied this right.”

Mr Kasuri said that during the current offensive to reduce tensions with India, Pakistan had made it clear that “the issue of Kashmir cannot be hidden behind terrorism.”

He said that Pakistan had also conveyed the same message to US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage when he visited Pakistan last week.

Mr Kasuri said that Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) was cooperating with the American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in the war against terrorism but “this cooperation goes beyond CIA.”

“We are cooperating with intelligence agencies of more than 50 countries ... in the fight against terrorism.”

Terrorism, he said, was as much a threat to Pakistan as it was to the United States and “we must fight together against it.”

Later, speaking at the medal conferring ceremony at the embassy the minister said that Senator Brownback had played a key role in promoting US-Pakistan relations.

The senator had introduced an amendment in 1998, allowing Pakistan to receive some US assistance despite the sanctions.

Brownback, he said, had also helped Pakistan in achieving a greater access to US market besides getting relief for Pakistani textiles.

Speaking on the occasion, Senator Brownback said that the ties between the two countries were now maturing into a strong relationship, “as a unifying force in the fight against terrorism.”