Pakistan welcomes Kashmir pledge

By Zaffar Abbas
BBC News, Islamabad

Mr Singh's comments found favour in Islamabad

Pakistan has welcomed Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's pledge to check human rights abuses by security forces in Indian-administered Kashmir.

A foreign ministry statement said Islamabad had received certain proposals for giving fresh impetus to the peace process.

Pakistan would soon be responding to these suggestions, the ministry said.

But it emphasised the need to go beyond confidence-building measures and to have discussions on the main dispute.

Positive elements

Pakistan's positive response to the Indian prime minister's remarks - made after a two-day visit and talks with pro-Indian political leaders - was not that unexpected.

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Kashmir dispute

Islamabad had long been accusing the Indian security forces in Kashmir of abuses, and so Manmohan Singh's assurance that he would penalise those responsible for human rights violations was immediately welcomed by Islamabad.

But the Pakistani foreign ministry statement is not just restricted to the rights issue, as its focus is mainly on Mr Singh's desire for a peaceful settlement of the outstanding dispute.

While welcoming his remarks, the statement said Pakistan's top leadership had repeatedly stated that the two sides must seize the opportunity of improved relations and a favourable international environment to resolve the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.

The statement said Pakistan has noted several positive elements in the speech of Mr Singh in Srinagar, and said it also agreed to the suggestion that there should be greater interaction of Kashmiris living on the two sides of the Line of Control.

The statement acknowledged that the Indian government had recently sent some new suggestions for speeding up the peace process, and said Pakistan would soon send its response.

But at the same time, Pakistan has expressed its disappointment on the failure of the two sides to arrive at a settlement on Siachin glacier and Sir Creek disputes during the recent talks.

The statement said remarks by Mr Singh in March had given rise to some optimism, but this was not fulfilled by the Siachen talks.