ISLAMABAD, June 8: Bangladesh has expressed serious concern over the tension prevailing between India and Pakistan which might lead to a full-scale war in the region.

The concern of the government and people of Bangladesh was conveyed to President Gen Pervez Musharraf by Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Morshed Khan here on Saturday.

“Bangladesh as a stakeholder in regional peace was seriously concerned over the deteriorating relations between the two major countries of the region,” said a statement released by the foreign office.

The visiting foreign minister stated that the President Musharraf’s landmark speech of Jan 12 was appreciated world over.

The president informed the Bangladeshi foreign minister about Pakistan’s policy of maximum restraint and its sincerity in seeking de-escalation of tension, resumption of dialogue with India and settlement of the Kashmir dispute by peaceful means.

The president affirmed that Pakistan wanted durable peace in South Asia for which it was necessary to resolve, on the basis of justice and fairplay, the differences between Pakistan and India especially the Kashmir dispute.