June 08, 2006	Thursday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 11, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, June 7: Vice Chairperson of the European Parliament’s Foreign Relations Committee Baroness Emma Nicholson has assured Pakistan of European Union’s continued involvement for early and peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute.

The assurance was held out at a meeting with Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Makhdum Khusro Bakhtyar, at the Foreign Office here on Wednesday. The Minister had underscored the need for the European Union and the Parliament to remain actively engaged for early resolution of the long and festering dispute, the Foreign Office Spokesperson said.

Mr Nicholson, who has been appointed by the European Parliament to write a report on Jammu and Kashmir, was briefed by Mr Bakhtyar on Pakistan’s position on the dispute.

He expressed hope that the report would take a holistic view of the dispute and the human rights situation.

Mr Bakhtyar said that while the ongoing dialogue had improved relations between Pakistan and India, there had been no progress on the core issue of Kashmir.

Baroness Emma Nicholson appreciated Pakistan’s position on the Kashmir dispute.

Mr Bakhtyar also apprised the Baroness about the Government’s efforts to improve the status of women in Pakistan by increasing their access to education, health care, and raising awareness about women’s rights.