Kashmir issue central to peace process: Pak FO

Islamabad, June 4: Pakistan today termed Jammu and Kashmir issue settlement as central to the ongoing peace process with India, saying aspirations of Kashmiris had to be taken into account to make the entire process credible.

''We must take into account aspirations of Kashmiris while finding solution to the dispute,''foreign office spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam told a weekly press briefing in Islamabad.

When asked to comment on Indian defence minister's remarks that no time frame for solution of Kashmir issue can be given, she said it is a question of political will and Pakistan has demonstrated it.

On increasing expression of support to President Pervez Musharraf's four-point formula on Kashmir, she emphasized that demilitarization is the unanimous demand of Kashmiris not only those on both sides of the Line of Control but Kashmir diaspora as well.

She said a just and practical solution of Kashmir issue would have to be in line with the desires and demands of Kashmiri people.

On the ongoing visit of families of Indian prisoners of war (PoWs) to Pakistan, she made it clear that there was no Indian PoW in Pakistan. ''Indian families were allowed to visit Pakistan on humanitarian grounds just to end their miseries,'' she added. She said these families have been allowed to visit prisons they wanted to and after visiting Lahore they confirmed that there were no prisoners there.

The spokesperson said Pakistan wished that India would be as forthcoming on the issue of civilian prisoners as it is on the issue of POWs.

''There are about five hundred Pakistani civilian prisoners languishing in Indian jails and Pakistan wants early activation of the joint committee of the judges on the matter,'' she stressed.

UNI