RAWALPINDI, Jan 9: President General Pervez Musharraf said on Friday that talks would soon be held with India to open the Khokhrapar-Monabao route, as also the Indian consulate in Karachi and Pakistani consulate in Mumbai.

This he said during a meeting with a five-member delegation of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) here. President Musharraf said that a peace agreement with India will help resolve all bilateral issues, including the core issue of Kashmir.

In answer to the MQM delegation's concern over the water issue, the president said a solution to this question would be worked out which would be acceptable to all the provinces. -PPI

Our Staff Reporter adds:The MQM delegation solicited the president's assistance in securing an enhanced share in the federal cabinet for their party.In their discussions with the president, the MQM team, besides broaching other matters, also made a plea for an enhanced share in the federal cabinet which is likely to be expanded in the coming weeks.

The MQM delegation reportedly complained that its share in the cabinet was not in keeping with what it had been promised. They recalled that they were promised two federal ministries, two state ministries, two posts of parliamentary secretaries and two of standing committee chairmen, but even after the passage of one year, the promise had not been fulfilled.

They also welcomed the move to open the Khokhrapar link with India and set up a ferry service from Karachi to Bombay, and asked the president to take personal interest in seeing that these moves translate into action.

The president told the MQM delegation that Pakistan and India were discussing the modalities for the reopening of Khokhrapar. The delegation comprised Dr Farooq Sattar, Shameem Siddiqui, Syed Hyder Abbas Rizvi, Dr Aamir Liaquat Hussein and senator Baber Ghouri.

Separately, three federal ministers belonging to the PPP Patriots also called on the president. They were defence minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal, interior minister Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat, and petroleum minister Nauraiz Shakoor.

The sources said they, too, asked for more slots in the cabinet. According to these sources, the president assured them that he will take up the matter with the prime minister.