Pakistan seeks early settlement of Kashmir issue

Hoping for an "era of peace" in South Asia, Pakistan on Friday said an early and peaceful settlement of the Kashmir issue with India.

“Pakistan government is committed to improving relations with India so as to usher in an era of peace in the region,” Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani said during an interaction with veteran Indian journalist and parliamentarian Kuldip Nayar at the Prime Minister's House in Islamabad.

“An early and peaceful settlement of the Kashmir dispute in keeping with the aspirations of the people of Kashmir will help Pakistan and India to achieve their full potential,” Gilani told Nayar.

He noted that it was "no coincidence that relations between the two countries always improve when a civilian government is in place in Pakistan".

Gilani said that his government would continue to take up more confidence-building measures (CBMs) to further improve bilateral ties in different fields.

“People-to-people contacts will also be increased to achieve the objective,” Gilani said Nayar.