Pakistan Commits to Kashmir Dialogue

By Prensa Latina,

Islamabad : Pakistan confirmed its commitment Wednesday to continue conversations with India to achieve results on the disputed Kashmir region.

In a TV press conference, recently appointed Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani said his government supports peace as a guarantee for regional stability.

"We want to have friendly relations with all countries, including India," insisted Gillani, who visited the Islamabad-controlled Kashmir area for the first time.

Located in the northern region of the Indian subcontinent, Kashmir has been the center of a 50-year dispute between India and Pakistan, triggering two wars and almost provoking a nuclear confrontation in 1998.

The region is divided among three countries: Indian-administered Kashmir to the east and south (population about nine million), which falls into the Indian-controlled state of Jammu and Kashmir; and Pakistani-administered Kashmir to the north and west (population about three million), which is labelled by Pakistan as "Azad" (Free) Kashmir. China also controls a small portion of Kashmir.

India and Pakistan began a global peace dialogue in 2004 to address all issues in this regard, including the border region, a source of tension for decades.

But although this process led to agreements on several confidence building measures between both parties, it was interrupted last year due to the crisis undergone by the government of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.

The resumption of talks by foreign ministers (the fourth round) is expected for May 21 in Islamabad.