ISLAMABAD, Jan 9: US Under-secretary Richard Armitage on Friday expressed the confidence that the Kashmir dispute will be resolved to the mutual satisfaction of Pakistan, India and the Kashmiris.

In an interview with the PTV, the US official praised President Gen Pervez Musharraf's statesmanship for agreeing to start a composite dialogue with India, saying: "I just have great deal of more confidence now that it (Kashmir issue) will be resolved peacefully and to the mutual satisfaction of both India and Pakistan and most importantly the people of Kashmir."

"United States joins the Western world in congratulating the statesmanship of President Musharraf and Prime Minister Vajpayee as they have agreed to start a dialogue in February," Mr Armitage said. -APP