ISLAMABAD, June 12: President Gen Pervez Musharraf said Pakistan wants a peaceful and just resolution of the Kashmir dispute and hoped similar spirit will prevail in India to achieve lasting peace in South Asia.

In an interview to a Saudi Daily Okaz, published on Thursday, the president reaffirmed Pakistan’s position on the long-running dispute which calls for a peaceful and just resolution to the Kashmir dispute, which is in accordance with the wishes of the people of Kashmir as mandated in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

“Pakistan has always emphasized the necessity of a meaningful and constructive dialogue to resolve the Kashmir dispute,” president said.

He said Pakistan welcomed Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s recent offer of dialogue to settle all outstanding disputes including Jammu and Kashmir.

“We are and will remain optimistic about achieving a negotiated settlement to the dispute,” he said and hoped that “a similar spirit will eventually prevail on the other side and we will make progress towards a lasting peace in South Asia.”

Responding to a question, Musharraf described the latest initiative for talks with India as a positive development which followed nearly 17 months of high tension between the two countries.

He recalled that the standoff also witnessed one of the biggest deployment of troops by New Delhi along the international border as well as the Line of Control.

The president said as a first step the two countries have already announced the appointment of their respective high commissioners.

Similarly, he said, the bus service is scheduled to start shortly which would soon be followed by the resumption of all severed air and rail links.

“We are also looking forward to the restoration of full diplomatic contacts leading to a meaningful and result-oriented dialogue with India,” Gen Musharraf added.

He said although the two countries did not enjoy the best of relations “at least we have agreed to talk to each other and hopefully we will gradually move forward with time”.

Regarding Pakistan’s stand on Kashmir issue, the president reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir was a disputed territory and recognized as such by the United Nations. India had placed the Kashmir dispute before the UN Security Council, he added. He said terming the just struggle of the Kashmiri people as “cross-border terrorism” is nothing but a dishonest portrayal of facts.—APP