26 July 2004	Monday	08 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425

NEW DELHI, July 25: Indian External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh said on Sunday night his Pakistani counterpart Khurshid Mehmud Kasuri would pay a two-day visit to India from September 5 to carry forward bilateral composite dialogue on all issues including Kashmir problem.

India and Pakistan would hold dialogue within the framework of Simla Agreement, Lahore Declaration, January Six Statement, and latest meeting, held with the President General Pervez Musharraf on Friday last, Singh told the newsmen in Jaipur, according to a news report received here.

"I extended an invitation to Khurshid Kasuri to visit India and he accepted it", Mr Singh said. Expressing satisfaction on his visit to Pakistan during the Saarc Foreign Ministers' meeting, Mr Singh said India would open its consulate in Karachi after a gap of three years and similarly Pakistan would establish its consulate in Mumbai soon.

On the Indian hostages in Iraq, the Minister said it is a very sensitive issue. But India was trying its best to rescue the three hostages at all levels. -APP