LAHORE, Sept 13: Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala has expressed the hope that the Kashmir issue will also be discussed at the summit talks between Pakistan president and Indian prime minister scheduled to be held at New York next week.

He was addressing a press conference at a hotel here on Monday before leaving for India along with his 48-member delegation after a three-day tour of six districts of the Punjab.

Mr Chautala, the chief minister of Indian state of Haryana, said there should be no obstacles in solving the issues, including Kashmir, for happy, friendly and cordial relations between the two countries.

Replying to a question regarding a common currency of the two countries and visa restrictions relaxation, he said: "Neither I nor Mr Pervaiz Elahi are in a position to solve these issues."

However, they could draw the attention of their central governments to the desire of their people who wanted peace and settlement of all issues, he added. Emphasizing the need for expanding trade relations between the two countries, he said India had surplus wheat "rotting" in its godowns and was in a position to export it to Pakistan.

But, in the absence of any trade agreement, India could not send wheat to Pakistan that was importing it from Australia and Russia. India and Pakistan had a large number of commodities in abundance that was required by the people of both the countries.

With better trade relations they could exchange them and thus frustrate the efforts of the advanced countries who wanted to capture the huge markets of both the countries. "We should make our best efforts to help the heads of both the governments to find out ways and means to improve the relations," he added.

Mr Chautala said during his visit to the Punjab the people had given him and his delegation a very warm welcome. "I and members of my delegation are overwhelmed with the receptions given to us. This shows that people of both the countries are eagerly awaiting restoration of cordial relations."

He said though he and his delegation had not come on an official tour, being the guests of the World Punjabi Congress, they were honoured by the governor and chief minister of the Punjab.

He said in a village people showered maunds of flower petals on their cars. Such a rousing reception could not be mere a show but an expression of real and sincere feelings of love.

At Nankana Sahib they were given warm reception. At Jandiala Sher Khan he had visited the tomb of Waris Shah, the great Punjabi Sufi poet. On the way he had seen lush green fields that showed that the Punjab government was doing a lot for the welfare of farmers and development of agriculture.

He said he had invited the Punjab governor and chief minister to visit Haryana. Mr Chautala thanked the Pakistani press for giving what he called excellent coverage to his tour of the Punjab.

Unlike the negative approach of Indian media, Pakistani press was playing a positive role. He invited Pakistani newsmen to visit Haryana and expressed the hope that visa restrictions would be relaxed which would help the media to exchange visits.

He said the 11th session of the World Punjabi Congress would be held before the end of this year at Koru Kasha in Haryana, the place where the Mahabharat (the great battle) between Koros and Pandos was fought. It was also the birthplace of Geeta, the daughter of Lord Krishna.

Earlier, World Punjab Congress president Fakhar Zaman presented him a set of his books and a turban as a token of love and friendship between the people of the two countries.

Mr Zaman said the visit had enhanced the feelings of friendship between the two countries. He hoped with the proposed relaxation of visa restrictions and better travel facilities more and more delegations of both the countries would visit each other. Later, a warm send off was given to Mr Chautala and his delegation at Wagah.