UNITED NATIONS, Sept 20: Pakistan is willing to go an extra mile to achieve a just and lasting final settlement of the Kashmir dispute, Foreign Minister Khursheed Kasuri told the Organization of Islamic Conference’s contact group here on Monday.

He underscored that “Pakistan, despite international legitimacy on its side, has proposed that this objective be achieved bilaterally by finding a peaceful solution to the Jammu and Kashmir dispute which meets the aspirations of the Kashmiri people at the same time is acceptable to both Pakistan and India.”

“We have repeatedly urged that rigidity and coercion must give way to accommodation and flexibility — if indeed, we are to find a durable and peaceful solution to the problem” Mr Kasuri said.

Asserting that “Pakistan’s commitment to the peace process remains undiminished,” Mr Kasuri told the meting that “It is for this reason that President Musharraf has proposed the demilitarization of Jammu and Kashmir and as a first step he has proposed that Indian troops should be withdrawn from the urban centres in Indian-occupied Kashmir.”

“This important CBM would not only raise the comfort level of the Kashmiri people but would provide a much-needed boost to the Pakistan-India peace process,” he added.

Mr Kasuri said “Pakistan has always stressed upon the necessity of a meaningful, constructive and result-oriented dialogue for peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.”

He noted that the people of Kashmir, who have undergone untold sufferings and hardship over the years, undoubtedly deserve our sincere effort towards alleviating their misfortune. The epoch-making sacrifices rendered by the valiant Kashmir people, realistically speaking, have laid the foundation for the current Pakistan-India dialogue process.”

Saying that, “there has been progress on confidence building measures which have brought the temperature down in South Asia considerably,” Mr Kasuri however noted “only some progress has been made on Kashmir related CBMs such as observance of cease-fire along LOC, commencement of Muzaffarabad-Srinagar bus service and visit of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), delegation to Pakistan.”

He pointed out that “although Pakistan’s case on Jammu and Kashmir is based upon international legitimacy and UN resolutions, President Pervez Musharraf has shown commendable courage by stating publicly that Pakistan was willing to show flexibility provided India was also prepared to do like wise.”

“Pakistan in this context has expressed its readiness to look at options for a final and sustainable settlement of the Jammu & Kashmir dispute. At the same time we have emphasized that for any solution to be fair and lasting has to take into account the aspirations and wishes of the Kashmiri people. The Hurriyat leadership has shown courage by initiating dialogue with the Indian government with a view to seeking final settlement of the Kashmir dispute,” Mr Kasuri said.

“Pakistan believes that the Kashmiri people being one of the three stakeholders in the Jammu and Kashmir dispute must be associated with the Pakistan-India dialogue process. Since the people of Kashmir would be principal beneficiaries of the process, their association in the dialogue process is therefore, essential for seeking a just and lasting final settlement of the Kashmir dispute,” Pakistan’s top diplomat said.

The meeting was attended by Prof Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, secretary general of the Organization of Islamic Conference, Sardar Muhammad Anwar Khan, President, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Chairman All Parties Hurriyat Conference.