LAHORE, May 25: The Indian stance on Kashmir has softened and they now want to resolve the issue through dialogue, according to leader of opposition Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

He said that the change in attitude had presented an opportunity for resolving the issue and it should be grabbed.

He was talking to reporters here on Thursday on his return from India.

Maulana Fazl said that the Indians had stopped saying that Kashmir was their integral part and were now more open to talks.

He said that he had met almost the entire Indian political leadership, including the prime minister and the leader of opposition. The Indian prime minister, he said, was particularly positive about Pakistan and its proposals on Kashmir.

“The Indian prime minister said that all proposals put forwarded by Pakistan, including de-mlitirisation of some parts of Kashmir, were under active consideration. The Indian side is looking at ways of making the proposals more practical and result-orientated.”

The Indian leadership, he said, had never been as positive about Pakistan as it was today, adding that the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh said he considered that Pakistan’s stability was in the best interest of India.

About the deteriorating situation on the western border of Pakistan, Maulana Fazl said he had taken up the issue with Indian leaders and they had promised to use their influence on the Afghan government to help restore some stability on the border with Pakistan.