NEW DELHI, April 17: President Pervez Musharraf said on Sunday that Pakistan would never betray the Kashmiri people and continue to provide moral, diplomatic and political support to their just cause. He was speaking to leaders of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) during a meeting here at the Pakistan House.

The president said that Pakistan favoured participation of the Kashmiri leadership in the dialogue process at some stage.

He said the decades-old Jammu and Kashmir dispute “has to be resolved” in accordance with the wishes of Kashmiri people. He added that the Line of Control would never be accepted as a permanent border.

The APHC leaders included Syed Ali Gilani, Mir Waiz Omar Farooq, Yasin Malik and others. Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri and Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad were also present during the meeting.

After the meeting, Syed Ali Gilani told newsmen that Kashmir was the central dispute which must be addressed in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people. He said other issues were secondary and Kashmir was the core dispute.

In his remarks, Mir Waiz Omar Farooq supported President Musharraf’s efforts and policies for the just resolution of the lingering dispute.

He also welcomed the recent confidence building measures between Pakistan and India.

—APP