US hails Musharraf's remarks on Jammu and Kashmir

Washington, Dec 8: The US has welcomed Pakistan President PervezMusharraf's statement, suggesting his willingness to give up hiscountry's claim on Kashmir if India agrees to a self-government systemin the disputed territory.

Commenting on Gen Musharraf's statement, State Departmentspokesman Sean McCormack yesterday said that Secretary of StateCondoleezza Rice was ''certainly aware of his (Musharraf's) comments.''''These are welcome comments and certainly, we have encouraged both thesides to come together to resolve what has been a thorn in the side oftheir relationship for many, many decades'', he said.

Whatever the solution is, certainly, the people of the region needto have a voice in it, the two sides need to resolve it, the spokesmansaid.

UNI

Related Stories