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ISTANBUL (Turkey): President General Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday ruled out any unilateral shift in Pakistan's policy on Kashmir, saying both New Delhi and Islamabad would have to show flexibility to resolve this lingering dispute for peace in South Asia.

"There is no question of unilateral shift in Pakistan's position on the Kashmir issue...it has to be mutual," said the President while talking to editors of leading Turkish newspapers here.

To a question, the President clarified that he had never said that Pakistan would give up its principled stand on Kashmir and added that his remarks were quoted out of context.

"We have a stand (on Kashmir). I have always been saying that if we want to go for a solution, ultimately we have to show flexibility," he said and stressed both Pakistan and India would have to go beyond their stated positions. "Both of us have to do that." 'That is not Reality'

However, the President made it clear that if anyone was expecting that Pakistan is going to leave its old position and India does not leave its stand "I am afraid that is not reality".

President Musharraf said that both Pakistan and India ought to be bold enough to move beyond their stated positions and show flexibility if we want to reach any conclusion.

There has to be mutual flexibility, the President said adding, "otherwise we are not going to reach any conclusion.

Historic Meeting

Responding to a question, the President said he described his meeting with the Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee in Islamabad as "historic" as for the first time Kashmir has been accepted as an issue which needs to be resolved.

In the past meetings between the leaders of the two countries, never has the Kashmir issue been accepted as an issue, he added. He said both sides reached a written agreement in which Kashmir was accepted as an issue.

Composite Dialogue Must

The President said that the two countries must initiate a composite dialogue process which must include all issues including Kashmir.

Addresses Turkish Grand National Assembly

Earlier, during his address to Turkish Grand National Assembly, first by any Pakistani head of state, President Musharraf said that he was working on the new avenues of peace and cooperation in South Asia adding that Pakistan and India were not doomed to remain foes forever.

Warm Ovation

The President received warm and standing ovation as he entered the Turkish parliament. He said that all the controversial issues including Kashmir must be resolved by peaceful means.

General Musharraf maintained that the world, and the Islamic world in particular, was the subject of terrorism and terrorists in the recent past and stressed upon cooperation between Turkey and Pakistan to bump into the terrorism.

Receives Turkish PM

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on President General Pervez Musharraf here Tuesday and exchanged views on matters of bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest.

Pak-Turkish Ties

The two leaders referred to the close and cordial Pak-Turkey relations and expressed the confidence that these would be further strengthened to the benefit of the peoples of the two countries in the days ahead.

President Musharraf told the Turkish Prime Minister about his talks with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and the agreements the two countries signed earlier in the day to increase cooperation in the fight against international terrorism and enhance trade and economic ties.

Sustainable democracy in Pakistan

Musharraf informed the Turkish leader about the efforts made for the sustainable democracy in Pakistan. The President underlined the need of translating excellent political and diplomatic ties between the two countries into more meaningful economic cooperation.

The Turkish Prime Minister expressed the hope that the visit of the President would further cement the friendly and brotherly relations between the two countries. The two leaders also discussed regional and international issues including Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan-India relations and Cyprus.

President Musharraf also met the Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly who had invited the President to address a special session of the Assembly as a manifestation of special relationship between Pakistan and Turkey.

Enlightened Moderation

Speaking at a banquet hosted in his honour by the Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer Tuesday night, President General Pervez Musharraf urged Muslim countries to focus on internal reforms and socio-economic development and urged them to shun extremism and promote moderation.

"Muslim countries face myriad challenges in the wake of 9/11. The gap of misunderstanding between the West and the Islamic world is widening, he said while President Musharraf referred to his vision of "Enlightened Moderation" as a way forward.

Eschew Extremism

The President said "Muslim countries should focus on internal reform and renewal through socio-economic development." They should shun extremism and promote moderation in their own interest, he added.

He underlined the importance of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) which, he said could play a pivotal role in promoting enlightened moderation.

"We must reform and empower this organization," he added.

OIC Reform

President Musharraf said he was glad that the 10th OIC Summit endorsed his proposal to establish a Commission to look comprehensively into all aspects of OIC reform.

He said Pakistan and Turkey, as Muslim countries with common objectives, can play an important role in revitalizing the OIC.

The President also spoke on the regional and international issues including Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan-India relations and Cyprus.

Durable Peace in SA

President Musharraf emphasized that to attain durable peace in South Asia the Kashmir dispute must be resolved to the satisfaction of all parties particularly the Kashmiri people.

Cyprus Issue

On the issue of Cyprus the President assured the abiding support of Pakistan for Turkey's endeavours for resolution of the ongoing problem in Cyprus on the basis of a bi-zonal and bi-communal solution.

The President said Pakistan was deeply concerned about the anarchy and chaos in Iraq. "The government of Iraq is the right of the Iraqi people and it should be restored to them, as soon as possible," he said.

The territorial integrity and sovereignty of Iraq must be preserved along with its rights over its natural resources.

Palestine

On the issue of Palestine, the President stated that it remained one of the major challenges facing the Muslim Ummah.

Pakistan, he said, has always supported the Palestinians in their just struggle against Israeli occupation. He said the Palestinians deserve a homeland of their own, on the basis of two sovereign states- Palestine and Israel- living side by side in peace and harmony.

Afghanistan

President Musharraf said the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan remained paramount in Pakistan's foreign policy.

He said Pakistan has a strong interest in the return of peace and stability to Afghanistan and remains firmly committed to the Bonn Process.

Turkish President Reciprocates

The Turkish President, Ahmet Necdet Sezer, in his banquet speech noted bright prospects for Turkish-Pakistan relations and appreciated Islamabad's constructive foreign policy.

He underlined the need for both the countries to seek ways to fully materialize current and prospective possibilities and opportunities.

"The distance between our countries has not had any effect on the strength and warmth of the mutual friendship and brotherly feelings that ournations have developed for each other," he said.

Quaid-e-Azam and Kemal Day

The Turkish President recalled support the Muslims of the Sub-continent had extended to the Turkish struggle for liberation 80 years ago.

"We also remember fondly that Quaid-e-Azam announced a Kemal Day for mourning all over the sub-continent when (Kemal) Ataturk passed away."

Lauds Pakistan for Crusade against Extremists

Sezer said that Pakistan and Turkey were living in a strategically important but unstable regions of the world with conflicts and confrontations next to their borders.

"Afghanistan and Iraq are causes of serious concern for all us," said the Turkish President and warned "their possible negative effects can pose a serious threat not only to us but also for the stability of our regions".

In this respect, President Sezer highly appreciated Pakistan's struggle against extremist elements and support it lent to the international war against terrorism.

He lauded Pakistan's constructive foreign policy for peace in the region that was based on Quaid's principle of "peace with all enmity with none".

President Sezer also underlined the importance of President Musharraf's initiative of "Enlightened Moderation" to emancipate the Muslim Ummah and reiterated Turkey's full support towards this goal.