Kasuri says no secret deal on Kashmir

Lahore, May 7: Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri has said the government will never make a secret deal on Kashmir.

''The Kashmir issue would be resolved after taking the people, parliament and the Kashmiris into confidence,'' the foreign minister was quoted as saying yesterday by The Nation newspaper.

Mr Kasuri said Pakistan would not endorse any solution to the issue which was not acceptable to the people of Pakistan and Kashmir.

He added any decision on Kashmir would be taken keeping in view the best interest of Pakistan.

The minister asked people to have confidence in the government, adding that Kashmir issue could only be resolved through dialogue and mutual understanding between Pakistan and India.

''Now there is a greater realisation in the Indian leadership that friendship with Pakistan is also in the interest of India,'' Mr Kasuri added.

UNI