NEW DELHI, June 27: Kashmiri leaders welcomed on Sunday remarks made by Pakistan's spokesman that Kashmiris constituted the principal party to the dispute.

Both factions of the All-Parties Hurriyat Conference welcomed the statement made by Pakistan's foreign ministry spokesman Masood Khan to reporters in New Delhi.

"We welcome the statement of Pakistan foreign office spokesman, according the 'principal party' status to people of Kashmir. But words should be followed by deeds that match them," APHC leader Maulvi Abbas Ansari was quoted as saying.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq told Dawn that he was enthused by Pakistan's contention that it believed in tripartite talks to resolve the Kashmir dispute.

Foreign Secretary Riaz Khokhar has met a range of Kashmiri leaders during his current visit to New Delhi. He received Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Saturday.

On Sunday, he received Shabbir Shah, Yasin Malik and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

Mr Ansari said the representatives of the people of Jammu and Kashmir should be practically taken into confidence for a lasting solution to the dispute. The resolution of Kashmir issue was possible only when the basic party also approved of the solution, he added.

Syed Ali Shah Geelani said the United Nations resolutions on Kashmir issue were the "best possible" solution to the dispute. He welcomed Mr Khan's statement as "realistic and according to ground realities".

Implementation of UN resolutions were the "most practical," "most acceptable" and "most peaceful" way of resolution to Kashmir issue but tripartite talks can be the next best alternative, Mr Geelani said.