ISLAMABAD, May 21: Hailing peace moves by Pakistan and India for peace in South Asia, Turkey on Wednesday expressed the hope that a speedy resolution of the long-running Kashmir dispute would be found in line with the wishes of the Kashmiri people.

“We welcome recent moves for resumption of much-needed dialogue and hope positive developments would pave the way for stability and peace in the region and peaceful resolution of all issues including Kashmir,” Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said at the end of his two-day visit to Pakistan.

Speaking at a joint Press conference with Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri, the Turkish foreign minister supported the right of self-determination of the Kashmiri people.

“We whole-heartedly support and wish peaceful solution to the question (of Kashmir) is found in a speedy manner through dialogue and in line with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people and on basis of international legitimacy,” he said.

He said Turkey supported initiatives by Pakistan and India and hoped that a lasting solution would be found to the problems through dialogue.

“Aspirations of the Kashmiri people are very important, they have suffered a lot,” he emphasised.

Foreign Minister Kasuri said the two sides had comprehensive dialogue on promoting the already excellent relations between the two countries and discussed regional and international issues important to both Pakistan and Turkey.

The two sides resolved to further deepen their ties and specially increase cooperation in economic and commercial fields on enduring basis, he added.

Mr Kasuri said Pakistan and Turkey shared perception on all major global issues.

The Turkish foreign minister said that Turkish Prime Minister would pay an official visit to Pakistan from June 15 and hoped it would help promote the two-way ties. President Gen Pervez Musharraf was also scheduled to visit Turkey in the last quarter of the year.

The two sides also exchanged views on the situation in Afghanistan and the evolving situation in Iraq. They decided to work closely.

Mr Gul said he had a wide-ranging discussion with President Musharraf on bilateral, regional and international issues.

He said Pakistan and Turkey were bound together by deep-rooted ties, friendship and brotherhood.

The Turkish minister noted excellent cooperation between the two countries on international and regional issues. Mr Gul said he had discussed with the President important developments in Iraq and situation in Afghanistan.

He said the two sides shared similar views and decided to remain in touch on these issues.

Replying to a question, the Turkish minister recalled the excellent ties between the two countries in the past and hoped that the coming visit of Turkish prime minister and the visit of President Musharraf to Turkey would give further impetus to these relations.

On cooperation vis-a-vis reconstruction in Iraq, Mr Gul said Turkey being the neighbour of Iraq knew the area. He said the private sectors of the two countries could collaborate and have joint ventures in Iraq. He also expressed his support for Pakistani peace-keeping force in Iraq.

Mr Kasuri said Pakistan wanted to help the Iraqi people in every possible way but sought UN’s legal cover for the Pakistani peace-keeping force in Iraq.

He said he was happy to note that the United States and Britain had made some amendments to their joint resolution on Iraq to take into account the wishes of the international community. To a question, Mr Kasuri said that Pakistan had always supported Turkey’s principled stand on Cyprus and would continue to do so.

The Turkish minister, while replying a question, said that resources of Iraq should belong to all Iraqi people and stressed on the territorial integrity of Iraq.

On the role of regional economic grouping ECO that includes Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan and Central Asian states, Mr Gul said that a ministerial level meeting in Bishkek next month would discuss ways and means for its promotion.

Mr Kasuri said that security situation in Afghanistan was one of main reasons for ECO’s lacklustre performance.

He, however, saw a more active role of the ECO in the wake of stability and normality returning to Afghanistan. In this regard, he referred to Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan gas pipeline project.—APP