NEW DELHI, Feb 5: The All Parties Hurriyat Conference has expressed optimism about a “substantial headway” in three months towards resolution of the Kashmir dispute.

“The next three months are crucial for resolution of the Kashmir issue,” APHC chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq told journalists in held Srinagar after briefing the amalgam's constituents about his recent visit to Pakistan.Queried on his optimism, he said during his recent visit to Pakistan he gathered, for the first time, that Indian and Pakistani representatives exchanged substantial ideas on the issue.

He said President Gen Pervez Musharraf's four-point proposal and the concept of self-governance were “encouraging concepts” which need to be debated in two countries and both sides of Kashmir.

Mirwaiz said a step-by-step approach had to be adopted “as it is a complex issue and there are lot of impediments in the way” and India and Pakistan needed to show a strong political will and move ahead with the dialogue process.

Meanwhile, the People's Democratic Party of occupied Kashmir asked both India and Pakistan to take concrete measures to resolve the Kashmir problem. “Time has come to make a much-needed breakthrough on this most crucial issue,” PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said.—APP