ISLAMABAD, July 28: US Secretary of State Colin Powell on Sunday declared that the forthcoming elections in occupied Kashmir would be the “first step” to resolving the dispute.

“We hope free and fair elections will serve as the first step to bring peace to the region,” Mr Powell said. Elections alone could not resolve the problem but they could be the first step towards addressing the Kashmir issue, he elaborated.

Speaking at a joint press conference with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Inamul Haq, after talks with President Gen Pervez Musharraf, the secretary reiterated his government’s commitment to “staying engaged for months and years ahead to bring peace and prosperity to the region,” giving an impression that it is a long road to de-escalation and dialogue between Islamabad and Delhi.

Noting that tensions between Pakistan and India had reduced and the danger of war had been averted, Mr Powell stressed the need for solution of all outstanding issues through peaceful means and dialogue.

He urged all the “parties concerned” not to disrupt or spoil the elections in (occupied) Kashmir, calling at the same time for release of all the arrested Kashmiri leaders. Mr Powell hinted that he was able to get an assurance from India for monitoring of elections by international observers.

In reply to a question whether upcoming elections in occupied Kashmir would be rigged or not, Mr Haq asserted: “Government of Pakistan has no means of either encouraging and preventing elections and it is for the Kashmiri people to decide.” However, he made it clear that election under the Indian constitution cannot be taken as plebiscite sanctioned by the UN Resolution. Mr Powell, who described Pakistan as a “key regional player”, maintained that President Musharraf had given him further assurances of ending cross-border infiltration.

However, the secretary’s remarks were not quite in line with what President Musharraf had told journalists accompanying Mr Powell earlier. Reportedly, President Musharraf said he had told the US secretary of state that infiltration had ended and Pakistan was not going to do any more.

Mr Powell conceded that infiltration had gone down but said India had another view on the issue.

Mr Powell said he did not bring any fresh proposals for the resolution of the Kashmir issue but emphasized that the US government would “facilitate” the resumption of dialogue between Pakistan and India. He observed that at the end of the day the two parties had to agree to the dialogue, adding that US could only “create bridges of communication.”

Mr Powell did not convey any signs of early resumption of Pakistan-India dialogue. The impression conveyed was that it had been put on hold till the elections in occupied Kashmir.

Earlier, in the opening remarks, Mr Haq said Pakistan had taken “substantive steps” to ease tensions and hoped for a resumption of dialogue with India. He appreciated the efforts made by the United States and the “desirable” role it had played to lower tensions in the region.

Both Mr Powell and Mr Haq made reference to the US secretary of state’s “next visit” to Pakistan, conveying that he would be re- visiting the region in the near future.

Jehangir Ashraf Qazi, Pakistan’s ambassador-designate to the United States, was present.

AFP ADDS: Later, Mr Powell flew out of Islamabad, ending a lightning peace shuttle between Pakistan and India.