NEW YORK, Sept 21: Underscoring that ‘there can be no durable peace in South Asia unless Kashmir dispute is resolved’, Foreign Minister Khursheed Mehmood Kasuri said on Tuesday Pakistan had demonstrated exceptional courage by stating that it was prepared ‘for a negotiated settlement of the dispute’.

Speaking at the Woodrow Wilson Centre at the Princeton University, Mr Kasuri pointed out that ‘although international legality and Security Council resolutions support Pakistan’s position, President Musharraf has shown exceptional courage by stating publicly that Pakistan would be prepared for a negotiated settlement of the dispute, which, of course, besides reflecting Kashmiris’ aspirations, was also acceptable to Pakistan and India.’

Noting that ‘both the countries hold widely divergent positions on Jammu and Kashmir,’ Mr Kasuri said ‘a way forward has to be found to meet the challenge of economic development which can only be achieved if there is peace.’

“Pakistan will continue to seek US and international help for strengthening and improving its internal situation and its external policies would also be influenced by the demands of internal defence, particularly against the inroads of terror,” he said.

He told the academia at the Ivy League University that the Pakistan-India composite dialogue process provided a valuable opportunity to achieve a peaceful settlement of all issues between the two countries, including the long standing Jammu and Kashmir dispute.

“This will have a very positive effect on the entire South Asian region which contains 20 per cent of the world population,” he added.

He assured the audience that Pakistan would work for peace and security in the region and at the international level for a peaceful world.