India gave proposals to solve Kashmir: Pakistan
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
New Delhi, July 23, IRNA
India-Pak-Kashmir
Pakistan has claimed that shortly before the Mumbai bomb blasts, India had given written proposals to it as 'an advance' and 'a step forward' in the agreed process of exploring options for a settlement of the Kashmir problem.
"... We have received something from India. I think the back channels are working and I know what they are doing but I cannot speak more than what I have already said ... They (the proposals) are definitely an advance because for the first time we have received something in writing. So it's definitely an advance. (However) it would be inaccurate to say whether our two positions are beginning to merge but we are talking to each other ...," UNI reported here quoting Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri's interview to CNN- IBN television channel.
He did not deny when asked whether both sides were exploring options for settling the Kashmir issue.
Asked whether the Indian back channel proposals he was referring to, were a response to President Musharraf's concepts of self- governance and joint management, Kasuri said the president was disappointed (earlier) but now Pakistan had got 'something from India'.
He did not elaborate, but said this was a step forward.
Asked about the paradox that within a short time there had been the bomb blasts as well as back channel communication taking further the peace process, Kasuri said this was 'because the leaders of Pakistan and India both value the peace process'.
The Pakistan foreign minister said he had high hopes that when the foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan meet on the July 31 in Dhaka for the SAARC Standing Committee, they might agree on fresh dates for the postponed India-Pakistan foreign secretary-level talks.
"I definitely think so and hope so. I would like that," Kasuri added.
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