Bush reiterates non interference on Kashmir

Washington, Sept 23: President George W Bush yesterday publicly restated the United States' policy of non interference on the Kashmir issue, leaving leaders of India and Pakistan free to resolve their 59-year-old problem bilaterally.

''The United States cannot force nations to reach an agreement,'' Mr Bush said, addressing a joint press conference after his hour-long White House meeting with Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf.

''Kashmir issue will be solved when their leaders decide to solve it. We want to help,'' Mr Bush said in reply to a question by a Pakistani journalist. ''Lasting agreement occurs when leaders of nations say: let's set the past behind; let's move forward.''

UNI

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