07 January 2004	Wednesday	14 Ziqa'ad 1424

SIALKOT, Jan 6: Three US congressmen have welcomed the talks of President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali with Indian premier Atal Behari Vajpayee during the Saarc summit.

Speaking to a gathering at Kotli Noonan village in Sambrial after visiting the Inayat Begum Memorial Trust Hospital on Tuesday, Joseph Pitts, William Tadd Akin and Steven Chabot expressed hope that these talks would pave way for solution to all the issues between the two neighbouring countries.

They appreciated the role of the Pakistani government in seeking peace and bringing economic stability in the region. The US, they said, would always encourage sincere and positive efforts of both the governments for peace, friendship and economic stability.

"As the two governments have started moving towards the right direction, the Kashmir issue will be solved soon," they added. They said Pakistan and the US enjoyed friendly relations and the former's frontline role in war against terrorism had further strengthened ties.