LONDON, April 28: Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri said on Thursday the chances for Kashmiris’ participation in the ongoing Pakistan-India talks “have increased following President General Pervez Musharraf’s successful visit to India”.

“It is my assessment that as a result of the visit, the chances of Kashmiris taking part in the peace process have increased because I think the level of trust has increased between the president of Pakistan and prime minister of India.”

Mr Kasuri told a news conference at the Pakistan High Commission that the president’s April 16-18 visit to India was “very successful by any stretch of imagination.”

The foreign minister, who was transiting through London after holding talks with EU in Luxembourg on Wednesday, reiterated that durable peace in South Asia hinged on a settlement of the Kashmir issue.

In response to a question, Mr Kasuri said flexibility on the Kashmir issue would be bilateral and added that Pakistan’s stand was based on UN resolutions.

“Pakistan is talking of various options because the status quo on the issue is suited to India,” he said.

Mr Kasuri said Pakistan and India were large countries and they could not be pressured.

No-one could pressure Pakistan into doing things that were not in its national interest, he said.

However, the two countries were susceptible to influence from their friends as could be the case with any country, he added.

About the forthcoming British elections on May 5, he said Pakistan enjoyed excellent relations with the UK but it was completely impartial in these polls.

Replying to another question on the treatment meted out to Senator Maulana Samiul Haq at the Heathrow airport, Pakistani High Commissioner Dr Maleeha Lodhi said the HC had made a demarche to the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office over it.

Another demarche was also given to the FCO over checking of Maulana Hussain on his arrival at the Manchester airport some days back.

About the proposed expansion of the UNSC, Mr Kasuri said Pakistan’s stand was not country-specific and was based on principle of sovereign equality of states.—APP