07 February 2004	Saturday	15 Zilhaj 1424

NEW YORK, Feb 6: Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has said there will be no compromise on Kashmir and nuclear issues as these are the points of prestige and pride for Pakistani nation.

He was speaking at a Kashmir Solidarity Day function here on Thursday evening. Sheikh Rashid said the government "has adopted a policy of far-reaching impact based on wisdom and sagacity" and "in the overall interest of the country."

He said President Musharraf "has initiated a dialogue process which can help in bringing about a peaceful resolution of main irritants between Pakistan and India."

The information minister stressed the need for a peaceful resolution of Kashmir issue "so that long-lasting peace can be ensured in South Asian".

He made it clear that Pakistan "is not going to take dictation" from any quarter. He paid rich tributes to the Kashmiri people for their heroic struggle for a just and right cause.

The information minister said Pakistan "wants the solution of Kashmir issue in a meaningful manner so that good-neighbourly relations are established and people of both the countries can concentrate on the socio-economic uplift of their people."

Earlier, the speakers representing a cross section of Pakistani community expressed their solidarity with the Kashmiri people.

They said it was the foremost duty of the international community and the United Nations to resolve the outstanding issue of Kashmir in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people.

The speakers included Vakil Ansari, Imtiaz Rahi, Abdul Malik, Ainul Huq, Hassan Qamar, Shahid Zaheer, Neelofar Abbasi, Qamar Ali Abbasi and Dr Sohail Muzaffar. The function was jointly organized by a private Pakistani television network. -APP