JAKARTA, April 23: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reaffirmed India’s commitment on Saturday to finding a peaceful solution to a decades-old dispute with Pakistan over Kashmir. Both countries would continue trying to foster closer ties and could overlook past problems and push for “new cooperative mechanisms and regional partnerships,” Singh told an Asia-Africa summit in Jakarta.

“In this spirit, in cooperation with Pakistan, we have embarked on a journey towards peace and good neighbourly ties,” Mr Singh told Asian and African leaders gathered for the summit in the Indonesian capital.

Mr Singh also expressed his appreciation for a comment made by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf on the Kashmir issue during his address to the summit on Friday.

“I appreciate the positive sentiments expressed by President Musharraf yesterday, which I fully reciprocate. We are sincere in our desire to resolve all issues in a mutually acceptable manner,” Mr Singh told the conference.

Gen Musharraf said on Friday that Pakistan and India “can be jointly proud of showing how sincerity, flexibility and courage can lead to bilateral achievement of peace and harmony.”—AFP