WASHINGTON, Feb 5: Pakistan was preparing to raise the Kashmir issue here on Saturday, reminding the international community that the resolution of the dispute remained a key part of its efforts to improve relations with India.

Former president of Azad Kashmir Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan was the keynote speaker at a program on Capitol Hill on the Kashmir Solidarity Day but the discussion was likely to be a low-key affair.

Unlike previous occasions, when the day's programmes were held in one of the Senate buildings, Saturday's discussion was being held at the offices of the Pakistan American Liaison Centre, which works with the Pakistan caucus in the United States Congress.

A statement issued by the Pakistan embassy here said that besides Sardar Qayyum, young Kashmiri Americans would highlight the plight of Kashmiris in held Kashmir. They visited held Kashmir last summer.

The announcement listed the PALC's director among the speakers but there were no US lawmakers on the list.

Diplomatic circles say that the decision to keep the event a low-key affair reflects Pakistan's desire to keep the Kashmir issue alive without giving India an excuse for accusing it of harming the peace process.

Policymakers here are watching carefully a recent slowdown in the process.

The most obvious irritant in the process is the Baglihar dam dispute.

Meanwhile, The Times of India reported that New Delhi is unhappy with Pakistan for protesting the Indian decision to opt out of the summit of the South Asian Association for Region al Cooperation and believes that Islamabad is trying to exploit its 'soured relations' with Bangladesh and Nepal.

The report claimed that India was ready to retaliate and to debate Pakistan's lack of democracy at the next meeting of the Commonwealth ministerial action group in London.

But US officials told Dawn that they hoped that such differences would be sorted out during Indian Foreign Minister Natwar Singh's Feb 15-17 visit to Pakistan.

They said that both Pakistan and India were working on a number of proposals to remove differences and maintain the pace of the peace process.

"The present triangular relationship between India, Pakistan and the US is solid ... and nothing should be done to upset it," says former US deputy secretary of state for South Asia Strobe Talbott, reflecting Washington's belief that its close friendly relations with both the countries place it in a unique position to ensure the success of the peace process.