Musharraf for resolution of Palestine, Kashmir

Islamabad, Feb 14: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has today asked the world community to play its due role in resolving political issues like Kashmir and Palestine and remove economic disparities to ensure peace and security in the region and world at large.

''Dialogue is the only way forward to resolve the disputes in Asia and other regions to ensure peace and security in the world,'' Gen Musharraf said while speaking at the opening session of a roundtable international conference on ''Voices from Asia: Towards a process for cooperation and security'', here.

He said conflict resolution was the key to ensure socio-economic development in the world, adding that poverty alleviation, promotion of education and resolution of political disputes in peaceful manner should be given priority by the world community to ensure peace and stability.

''The international community should integrate its efforts while Muslims should forge unity to fight extremism and terrorism and project the concept of enlightened moderation as the basis to ensure peace,'' he stressed.

He said in resolving the conflicts, the principles of UN charter should be followed. He said Pakistan is a strong supporter to UN reforms, so that the world body could play its due role in resolving the disputes.

On Kashmir issue, the President said the West and China should play a proactive role in finding peaceful solutions.

He said besides giving due attention to resolve the old and lingering issues like Kashmir and Palestine '' we must also find the solutions to new conflicts like Iraq, Afghanistan, US-Iran and North Korea''.

He maintained that political disputes were a threat to peace, security and development particularly in the developing world.

Underscoring the need to address root causes of extremism and terrorism, the President said efforts should be made to discourage extremist elements.

UNI