September 12, 2008	Friday	Ramazan 11, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Sept 11: The government would soon form a parliamentary caucus for forging consensus on Kashmir and the peace process with India.

The decision to establish the body was taken on the initiative of President Asif Ali Zardari, who held extensive discussions with political parties and convinced them about the need for such a forum.

The president had promised good news on Kashmir at his first press conference on Tuesday.

The caucus would have representation from all political parties and would be in addition to the National Assembly’s Kashmir committee, which was constituted last month.

The formation of the caucus is being done on fast track. Once the caucus is formed, the government would take all political forces into confidence about the peace process with India.

“Through the caucus we would develop consensus on dialogue with India and the situation in Kashmir,” Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said. The caucus would help present the country’s point of view on these issues in a more focused way.”