ISLAMABAD, May 29: President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday told Indian Rajya Sabha member Ms Nirmala Deshpande, who also heads the Indian chapter of Pakistan-India friendship group in the parliament, that there was now an urgent need for progress in conflict resolution, particularly the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.

Talking to Ms Deshpande who called on him at the Aiwan-i-Sadr, the president underlined that dispute resolution was important to consolidate the Indo-Pakistan peace process.

“Ms Deshpande apprised the president of her efforts for the promotion of peace between Pakistan and India,” a statement issued by the Foreign Office said, adding: “She also informed the president about her recent activities in the field of rural development in India.”

The president commended Ms Deshpande for her efforts to promote peace between India and Pakistan and briefed her on the progress being made in the Composite Dialogue, including the Confidence Building Measures, the statement said.