Musharraf says Pakistan committed to peace process with India

Islamabad, May 21 : President Pervez Musharraf today said that Pakistan is committed to the peace process with India and wants to resolve all outstanding issues between the two countries through dialogue.

Musharraf said that he welcomed the resumption of the composite dialogue and hoped it would lead to "'some substantial conclusion".

He said Pakistan is "'serious and committed to" the dialogue process and wants to see all outstanding issues between the two countries, including Kashmir, to be resolved.

Affirming Pakistan's seriousness about and commitment to the dialogue process, Musharraf told External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee that the wishes of the Kashmiri people couldn't be ignored.

Mukherjee is in Islamabad to review the composite dialogue process that was initiated in 2004. He called on Musharraf at the Aiwan-e-Sadr or presidency in Islamabad this morning.

Mukherjee said India is committed to the dialogue and wants to see "substantial progress on all outstanding issues" so that there can be economic development in the two neighbouring countries.

The two leaders discussed bilateral relations, the regional security situation and other issues like trade and confidence-building measures.

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi assisted Musharraf while Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon accompanied Mukherjee.

ANI