2 April, 2005	Saturday	22 Safar 1426

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NEW DELHI, April 1: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Friday that India was committed to the composite dialogue process with Pakistan and he was willing to discuss with President Gen Pervez Musharraf all issues that had ‘vital bearing’ on bilateral relations. In its dispatch from Port Louis in Mauritius, the Press Trust of India quoted Dr Singh as seeking to allay fears over the security of passengers on the inaugural Muzaffarabad-Srinagar bus service on April 7. He said it was the solemn obligation of both the countries to ensure the passengers’ safety.

He played down the controversy over the last Pakistan-India one-day cricket match in Delhi on April 17, describing adverse comments on the feasibility of the venue as ‘minor hiccups’ that would be overcome and saying that the “caravan will move on”. Of his proposed talks with Gen Musharraf, he said: “We are willing to discuss all issues. We are not afraid of discussing any issue.”

While the issue of the venue for the match appeared to have been settled, there were indications that the president might spend two nights in India, and not one as previously thought. In an interview with the Le Mauricien newspaper of Mauritius, Dr Singh said: “On the Kashmir issue, even as we explore a mutually acceptable solution, the process, as well as relations between our two countries, will certainly gain if, in the interim, we were able to ease the rigours of the LoC as a divide.”

“The new Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service is a beginning in this direction. It has been widely welcomed all over, especially in Jammu and Kashmir. There is improved morale and political atmosphere on both sides in Jammu and Kashmir. It needs to be understood that while dealing with complex issues, such as that of Jammu and Kashmir, we need to be practical and realistic in our approach,” he said.