ISLAMABAD, Feb 3: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Friday ruled out the possibility of a federation between India and Pakistan. This he said when his attention was drawn to a statement by Indian President A.P.J Abdul Kalam who reportedly stated on Thursday that some kind of federation between India and Pakistan looked a possibility in next 50 years.

Prime Minister Aziz told reporters that “this may be their (Indians’) way of thinking”.

Answering a question, he said that Saudi Arabia was a strategic partner of Pakistan and it could play an important role for peace in South Asia which hinged on a settlement of the Kashmir issue.

“Pakistan will always welcome any initiative for peace in the nuclearised South Asian region,” he said, adding that Pakistan’s efforts to resolve the Kashmir issue were discussed in detail during his meeting with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia.

He said the settlement of the Kashmir issue would be a victory of Kashmiri people, Pakistan and the Muslim world.