LAHORE, Oct 1: Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri has said that Kashmiri leaders on both sides of the Line of Control should be afforded more opportunities for interaction as they are in a position to come up with a solution to the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the aspirations of Islamabad, New Delhi and the region’s people.

Talking to Dawn ahead of his Indian counterpart Natwar Singh’s visit to Pakistan, he said: “Pakistan feels that if you allow greater interaction between the Kashmiri leaders on both sides of the LoC and give them time for brainstorming, they will come to some solution reflective of the aspirations of the Kashmiri people and of Pakistan and India.”

About his negotiations with his Indian counterpart, Mr Kasuri said the two sides would review the progress of the talks they had held earlier and prepare guidelines for the parleys to be held in January.

“I attach a lot of importance to these talks,” he said.

The minister said very strong peace constituencies in both the countries would carry the peace process forward.

He said people should also feel that the two countries were making progress.

Many people, Mr Kasuri said, thought that the peace process should be much faster, adding that he would take up the matter in his talks with Mr Singh on Monday.

In reply to a question about prospects for the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project, he said so far he had got no indication of a negative development.

He said Pakistan wanted a peaceful solution to the Iranian nuclear programme issue and it had adopted a common position at the International Atomic Energy Agency with the Asian and African blocs.

“Let’s give peace and diplomacy a chance, as suggested by IAEA Director-General Mohammad ElBaradai,” Mr Kasuri said when asked what situation he visualized if Iran was referred to the Security Council.

He expressed the hope that there might be some progress on the front before the next meeting of the IAEA.

In response to a question about withdrawal of US and UK troops from Iraq, the minister said friends of Iraq and all those who wanted peace would like the political process to succeed. But for that purpose, he said, Shias, Sunnis and the Kurds should take part in the process.

He quoted a recent statement made by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al Faisal that immediate withdrawal of US troops from Iraq could lead to chaos and instability. He said no friend of Iraq would like that to happen.

Mr Kasuri said Islamabad felt upset by the situation that Iraq was facing. Pakistan, he said, had offered technical help to Iraq and a number of Iraqi diplomats had been trained here.

“We have also offered training facilities to Iraqi security personnel,” he said.