KARACHI, Nov 8: Azad Kashmir minister for health and population welfare Sardar M Yaqoob has lauded the recent statements of President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Altaf Hussein on the Kashmir issue.

Speaking to journalists at an Iftar-dinner hosted by Sindh chief minister's health adviser, Faisal Malik, Mr Yaqoob appreciated Gen Musharraf and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement's chief for speaking openly and boldly on the issue.

"It was because of the principled stand of the Pakistani leaders that New Delhi had accepted Kashmir as a disputed region," he said.

To a question, Mr Yaqoob said no Kashmiri could accept the Line of Control as permanent border between Azad Kashmir and Indian-held Kashmir."

He said many options to help resolve the seemingly-intractable issue had been presented by both Gen Musharraf and Altaf Hussein recently, which was a good omen. "There was a time when no Pakistani could say anything about Kashmir while on Indian soil. This has changed and we are happy over this."

He said the Kashmiri people should be involved in all dialogues on the disputed territory. "If Pakistan and India talk over Kashmir, the dialogue is meaningless until and unless the Kashmiris are involved in the process too."

In response to a question, Mr Yaqoob expressed the hope that the issue would ultimately be resolved. "However, exactly when this issue would be resolved, I cannot say with any certainty," he added.

When reminded that Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed had said recently that the question would be resolved in two years, the Kashmiri minister said: "The minister has good connections both inside the country and outside, and if he says the problem would be resolved soon, we look forward to an early resolution of the issue."

Mr Yaqoob was of the opinion that Pakistan had not changed its stand over Kashmir in order to bring New Delhi to the negotiation table. "Islamabad morally continues to support the cause of the Kashmiris.

Faisal Malik said that Sindh health department wanted to cooperate with the Azad Kashmir health authorities to help reduce the incidence of diseases like AIDS, Hepatitis, tuberculosis and polio.

In response to a question, Mr Malik said at the moment there were 6,500 vacancies in the health department, adding:

REFUGEES ISSUE: Sardar Yaqoob said that Sindh government had been approached for allocation of 300 plots in scheme 33 for providing accommodation to the Kashmiri refugees in the city, adds APP.