HYDERABAD, Sept 5: Federal Information Minister Shaikh Rashid Ahmad has said that the Kashmiri leadership will have to be included in the ongoing dialogue between India and Pakistan at some stage.

He told a news conference at the circuit house here on Sunday that the issue needed to be resolved in accordance with aspirations of people of Kashmir because they were the main stakeholders.

He said positive results were being achieved in dialogue with India. About the Shaukat Aziz government, Sheikh Rashid said it had a new spirit and thinking and it would extend a hand of friendship to the opposition and work for the cause of international peace.

He did not agree with a questioner that the federal cabinet was too large. He said the main philosophy was to groom youngsters and to prepare them for future responsibilities.

He urged opposition parties to join hands with the government and hold talks on contentious issues so that problems of people could be solved. When asked why was the government not prepared to hold talks with the exiled PPP and PML-N leaders while it was always ready to talk to Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain, he said the government had been holding talks with Makhdoom Amin Fahim and the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal leadership.

Responding to a question about the killing of four innocent people in the Wana operation, he said mistakes did occur and they had occurred all over the world. Referring to the government's policy towards journalists, the minister said the government was with journalists on the issue of the Wage Board Award.

Answering a question about the West's insistence that Pakistan should do more in the war on terrorism, he said that during the last two months, Pakistan had nabbed 70 terrorists. He added that regardless of what the West said, Pakistan was committed to eliminating terrorism within its jurisdiction.

He reiterated that no foreigner would be handed over to any other country. He, however, urged foreigners living in the country to get themselves registered with authorities. He also called upon foreign students to get visa.

He said the government had no intention to interfere in the affairs of religious schools. However, he expected management's of the schools to take action against undesirable elements and ensure that foreign students obtained legal documents.

About the US presidential election, the minister said it did not matter for Pakistan who, George W. Bush or John Kerry, was elected the next president. He said Pakistan's geo-political location was very important and it could not be ignored whoever became the US president.

The minister said the government believed in an independent foreign policy and freedom of press.