MIRPUR, Feb 19: Visiting member of the House of Lords, upper house of the British Parliament - Lord Nazir Ahmed has welcomed the achievement in the first round of the foreign secretary-level Pak-India talks concluded on Wednesday.

He has expressed the hope that the phased process of dialogue between the two arch rivals would lead to the resolution of all differences especially the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir.

He was addressing the ceremony arranged in his honour by the Secretary General Central Union of Journalists Ejaz Fazal Chaudhry here late on Wednesday.

The ceremony was also addressed by the host Ejaz Fazal Chaudhry, Khalid Rashid Advocate, Muhammad Ramazan Chughtai, Humayoon Zaman Mirza and others. Eminent Kashmiri folk singer Qadeer Ahmed Qadeer presented the poetry of renowned writer and spiritual leader of the sub continent Mian Muhammad Buksh from his world fame book "Saif al Malook".

Lord Nazir said the Kashmir issue should be resolved according to the aspirations of Kashmiris. He called for inclusion of the Jammu and Kashmir people in the process of talks between Pakistan and India.

"If Pakistan and India wanted to resolve the Kashmir problem, they should involve the Kashmiri leadership from either side of the line of control", he urged adding "The Kashmir issue could not be resolved on permanent and durable grounds unless the voice of the Kashmiri people is brought to the talks level".

The lord emphatically said that Kashmiris want their right of self determination under the spirit of the UN Security Council's resolutions. -APP