'Pakistan wants peaceful resolution of disputes with India'
By Murtaza Baig - Pakistan Times Baluchistan Bureau Chief

QUETTA: President General Pervez Musharraf said on Wednesday that Pakistan wants peaceful resolution of all outstanding disputes including Jammu and Kashmir with India.

Addressing officers at the Command and Staff Colleges, here the President said confidence building measures and dialogue process are underway for the solution of the lingering problems between the two countries.

Corps Commander Lt. Gen. Hamid Rab Nawaz and Commandant Staff College Maj Gen Mohsin Kamal were present on the occasion.

The President said the successful policies pursued in the last five years have earned Pakistan a respectable status in the comity of nations and the world looks up to the country for an important role in international affairs.

Foreign investment

Pakistan, he said, is moving forward on the path of sustainable development with economic activity gaining momentum due to consistency and continuity of policies. The President stated external debt has been reduced and foreign investment is now flowing into a number of promising sectors.

Reiterating Pakistan's unswerving commitment to root out terrorism, the President said the country is opposed to the menace in all its forms and manifestations.

Curse of Terror

The curse of terror, he said, brings a bad name to the great religion of Islam, which stands for peace, harmony and well being of all. It also tarnishes the image of the country, he added.

He said the Government had launched a successful operation against foreign extremists involved in terrorist activities on both sides of the border, who had taken refuge in the tribal region of South Waziristan and paid tributes to the Armed Forces for their vital role in eliminating terrorists.

The local populace in South Waziristan, he said, is appreciative of the Government's actions against terrorists and now normalcy is being restored in the area.

General Pervez Musharraf also spoke about the fallout of Sept 11 events on the Pakistani society. He said terrorism has affected the Muslim countries and now the Islamic countries will have to take some concrete steps to correct negative perceptions.

Calls for Solution of Issues

The West, on the other hand, he said, should help resolve the political disputes. He called for early, just and peaceful resolution of Palestine and Kashmir disputes.

The President emphasized that we would have to weed out terrorism from our country so that Pakistan may move forward quickly on the path of development and prosperity and our future generations live a better life.

He said efforts were afoot to make the Organization of Islamic Conference a dynamic body to meet the challenges facing the Muslim world and bring them at an elevated stature in the world.

The President said he has discussed the restructuring of the OIC with Muslim leaders and expressed the hope that it would be able to improve its performance in future.

Pakistan as a nuclear power

Pakistan, he said, is a nuclear power of 150 million people. He underscored that Pakistan's strategic assets are in safe hands.

About Pakistan-Afghanistan relations, he said, these are getting strengthened. He said peace and stability in Afghanistan is in the interest of Pakistan and will be helpful in achieving sustainable development for both countries.

Later, the President visited the Corps Headquarters, where he was received by the Corps Commander Lt Gen Hamid Rab Nawaz. They exchanged views on matters of professional interest.

Pak for resolution of Kashmir issue: FO

'Pakistan Times' Federal Bureau Chief Rafique Goraya adds from Islamabad: Foreign office Spokesman Masood Khan Wednesday said that Pakistan wants resolution of Kashmir issue with India to ensure peace and prosperity in the region.

Talking to newsmen here at a local hotel, Masood Khan said Pakistan is moving forward with sincerity for the success of the ongoing dialogue process for the resolution of Kashmir dispute peacefully. He urged India to show sincerity in the dialogue process.

India asked to end HR Violations

The Spokesman said India should end violation of human rights in Indian held Kashmir. "We want solution of Kashmir problem according to the aspirations of the people of Kashmir" and added that Pakistan will extend its moral, political and diplomatic support to Kashmiris to achieve their objective.

Earlier, addressing the function briefly, he stressed the need for promotion of knowledge based education and development of human capital to meet the future challenges.●