Bush leaves Kashmir to India, Pakistan

Pakistan President Gen. Pervez Musharraf sought US President George W Bush's role in ‘facilitating’ a resolution of the Kashmir dispute. However Bush stated that US would encourage India and Pakistan to resolve Kashmir while steering clear of any sort of mediation.

Pakistan President Gen. Pervez Musharraf sought US President George W Bush’s role in ‘facilitating’ a resolution of the Kashmir dispute. However Bush stated that US would encourage India and Pakistan to resolve Kashmir while steering clear of any sort of mediation.

“I did express my gratitude for the efforts towards resolution of the disputes to bring peace in the region. I referred to Kashmir and requested him to remain involved for facilitating for resolution of all issues including Kashmir to bring peace in the region,” Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf said at a press conference with Bush after holding talks with him.

Musharraf said he and Bush have decided to further strengthen the strategic relationship between the two countries by having a strategic dialogue and institutionalise it.

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“We laid the foundations of a strong, sustainable, broadbased long term relationship between Pakistan and the US. These include, first of all, commencing the US-Pakistan strategic dialogue in an institutionalised manner.

“These include defence relations, cooperation against the fight against terrorism and resolution of all disputes in the region including Kashmir,” he said.

Bush said the role of US was to continue to encourage the parties to come together to resolve the Kashmir issue.

The best way for Kashmir to be resolved is for leaders of both the countries to step up and lead, he said adding the Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) taken by the two countries have begun to bear fruit.

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“The atmosphere is changing,” Bush said noting that there were increased trade and people-to-people contacts now. He also recalled how India helped Pakistan during last year’s earthquake.

On terrorism, the US leader said that the two countries were working to strengthen the lasting partnership to fight terror especially lauding Pakistan’s role after the 9/11 attack.

He also condemned the attack in which a US foreign service official died and said this showed that the war on terror continued.

“We have to fight the war together and Pakistan will be playing an important role in this,” he said.