December 3, 2003	Wednesday	Shawwal 8, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 2: Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri has said present confidence building measures initiated by Pakistan and India are just a beginning and there is a need for resolving the Kashmir dispute for durable peace in the region.

Talking to newsmen at a reception hosted in the honour of Pakistan Muslim League-Q leaders and workers by the party here on Tuesday, the foreign minister said Pakistan’s Kashmir policy would remain unchanged.

Mr Kasuri urged members of the civil society organizations in both the countries to support their respective governments in their efforts for bringing the two countries closer. He also called upon the international community to play its role for maintaining permanent peace and security in the region. He stressed the need for resolving the Kashmir dispute to avoid Kargil-like situations.

He welcomed India’s response to the steps taken by President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali for normalization of relations.

He said both Pakistan and India were facing similar problem of poverty and it could only be eliminated through peace in the region.

Replying to a question, he said the Parliament would be taken into confidence as far as normalization process with India was concerned.

He said there was an elected government in the country

and every decision would be taken after approval of the parliament.