KARACHI, Nov 6: Federal Minister for Information Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has said that Pakistan has not given up its principled stand on Kashmir but if India is sincere and willing to solve the issue, we are ready to go ahead.

"Pakistan wants to open a new chapter in its ties with Afghanistan," he said, adding that President Musharraf's visit to Kabul would pave the way for better relations between the two countries.

speaking at an Iftar dinner hosted for senior journalists and editors here on Saturday, the minister expressed the hope that with the re-election of President Bush, the next four years would prove to be the era of progress and resolution of problems so long as Pakistan was concerned.

Later, talking to newsmen Sheikh Rashid said that Pakistan was keenly interested in resolving the Kashmir issue.

Dispelling the impression that President Musharraf had proposed a formula in this regard, he clarified that it was simply his desire that there should be open discussions and debates to bring to light the likely solutions to the issue. "If India is sincere in maintaining good relations with Pakistan, it should hold composite dialogues and take advantage of the bold offer and farsighted approach of the president," he added.

He observed that the dispute would remain unresolved if Islamabad continued to insist that Kashmir was Pakistan's jugular vein and New Delhi also remained stuck to its claim that the territory was an integral part of India. The minister pointed out that even the relevant UN resolution called for demilitarization of the territory before a plebiscite.

In reply to a question, Sheikh Rashid hinted that talks were under way on a timeframe with regard to an amicable solution to the problem. He said that not only Pakistan and India, there were other forces also who were assisting in finding a peaceful settlement.

The minister observed the US interest in Pakistan had increased due to the latter's key role in Afghanistan. He said it was possible that in future, Pakistan would be given a leading role in the region.

Referring to the peaceful elections in Afghanistan and Hamid Karzai's retaining the President's office, Sheikh Rashid said he expected a new turn in relations with the neighbouring country. Pakistan has already made an investment of US$100 million in Afghanistan's reconstruction process.

In reply to other questions, the minister said: "While we do not know much about Mr Kerry's approach, we have pretty good idea of Mr Bush's views. As information minister, I have held four meetings with Mr Bush over a year or so and found that he is fully aware of the problems and compulsions that prevented Pakistan from sending its troops to Iraq and extending support to US on the issue of Sudan." He said President Bush was also aware of the fact that there were only a few madressahs in Pakistan which had been bringing a bad name to the religious seminaries.

Claiming that President Musharraf was insisting on retaining his military post as he has to take decisions on certain dams, Sheikh Rashid said that soon everyone in the country would start realizing the importance of the availability of water, which was fast becoming a matter of survival.

Referring to the situation in Wana, the information minister said when the world had been claiming that terrorists were there in the border area, we never believed this, but we were made to believe this after killing of seven foreigners in that area.

Sheikh Rashid said it was for the first time in the history of Pakistan that a government had taken the right initiative in Wana which, he said, was in the interest of the country.

The minister said that the government was willing to maintain good relations with opposition parties but it was not possible for it to give in to their pressure. In fact, he said, President Musharraf was taking up their case in the western world, particularly the case of two provinces where the opposition had formed government.

He said uniform was not their agenda as the National Assembly and Senate both had passed a bill to this effect. "And now President Musharraf himself would make an announcement on the issue at an appropriate time."

Regarding the wage award for the newspaper industry, the minister said the government considered the award as 'a right of journalists' and in this connection, it was in touch with the APNS and CPNE. "The government is prepared to give the two bodies more concessions," he added.