03 August 2004	Tuesday	16 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425

ISLAMABAD, Aug 2: Foreign Minister Khurshid M Kasuri and the foreign secretary briefed the Kashmiri leaders on the status of the composite dialogue between Pakistan and India at a meeting held on Monday at the Foreign Office.

The meeting was chaired by the foreign minister. The president and the prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and representatives of all the political parties, including the APHC, attended the meeting.

Speaking on the occasion, the foreign minister said that Pakistan attached great importance to a meaningful and result-oriented dialogue process. It is important that progress be made towards the final settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir issue.

Briefing Kashmiris on the foreign secretary-level talks between Pakistan and India on the Jammu and Kashmir issue, the foreign secretary said that Pakistan had emphasized the need for associating the Kashmiris with the dialogue process and respect for their legitimate aspirations.

The Kashmiris should be the beneficiary of this process. In this context there was an urgent need for improving the human rights situation in Indian occupied Kashmir. -APP