KARACHI, Jan 7: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain has extended his felicitations to the president on the success of the 12th Saarc conference in Islamabad.

Terming it a breakthrough towards peace and a better understanding in economic and trade relations between the Saarc member states, Mr Hussain expressed the hope that the outcome of the conference would bring prosperity in the region and help eliminate poverty in the member countries.

Welcoming the meeting between President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Mr Hussain said that the biggest achievement of the conference was the beginning of talks between the neighbouring rival countries towards peace and a peaceful negotiated settlement of bilateral disputes, including resolution of the longstanding issue of Kashmir in accordance to the aspirations of Kashmiris.

The MQM chief congratulated President Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for taking a bold step of normalizing relations between the two countries.