ISLAMABAD, March 1: British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has said Britain will play its role for a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir issue and establishment of peace in South Asia.

Mr Straw held out this assurance during a meeting with the leader of opposition in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry, who called on him at Blackburn.

Mr Straw informed him that he would be visiting Pakistan from March 3-5. He said that besides deliberating upon bilateral relations, he would discuss Pakistan-India dialogue process during his visit.

He agreed that Kashmiris were most important party to the dispute and they could not be kept away from the dialogue process.

Mr Straw emphasized that wishes of Kashmiri people would have to be respected while making any decision for a peaceful resolution of the issue.

Barrister Mahmood briefed the British secretary about the latest situation in occupied Kashmir and human rights violations committed by Indian troops. He stressed the need for the resolution of the Kashmir issue 'in the framework of present regional and international situation'.

He said that only taking Kashmiris into confidence was not sufficient and added that they must be included in the dialogue process.-APP