ISLAMABAD, Jan 24: King Abdullah-II has said that Jordan supports initiatives aimed at peaceful and negotiated settlement of disputes between Pakistan and India, including that of Kashmir.

Talking to president’s special envoys, Federal Minister Abbas Sarfaraz Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehrik leader Mohammad Tahirul Qadri, in Amman, he praised President Musharraf’s efforts to defuse tension and said he was looking forward to meeting the president during his visit to New York.

The envoys held meetings with Prince Hassan Bin Talal, Prime Minister Ali Abdul Ragheb and Foreign Minister Shaher Baak.

They exchanged views with the king and the prime minister on the situation in the Palestinian territories. They said that the people of Pakistan shared with Jordanians the anger and outrage at the Israeli brutalities and expressed full support for the establishment of a viable and independent Palestine.

Earlier, in Syria, the envoys met President Basharul Asad briefed him on the regional situation. The Syrian president said his country would support de-escalation of tension and he hoped that steps taken by President Musharraf would help reduce tensions between India and Pakistan.

President Asad expressed his desire to strengthen bilateral cooperation, specially in science, education and culture.

In Cairo, the Pakistan president’s envoys called on Egyptian Prime Minister Dr Atef Ebeid and apprised him of the regional situation in South Asia.

The Egyptian prime minister appreciated the measures taken by the Pakistan president for removing tension with India. He thanked him for taking Egypt into confidence on issues of concern and said this reflected the depth of relations between the two brotherly countries. —APP