950825

Akayev backs Pakistan

on Kashmir

FAIZUR REHMAN

BISHKEK: The President of Kyrgyzstan, Askar Akayev, on Friday extended his government's unequivocal support to the Pakistan stance on Kashmir and expressed complete solidarity with the people of Kahmir in their hour of turnoil.

The expressed these views during his meeting with Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto that lasted over an hour.

The Kyrgyz president said the government and people of Kyrgyzstan shared the pains and torture being perpetrated on the innocent Kashmiris at the hands of Indian forces. He also condemned the desecration of Muslim shrines and the callous attitude of the Indians with the people of occupied Kashmir.

During the meeting the prime minister drew attention of President Akayev on the human rights violations by the Indian occupation forces as well as the Indian refusal to implement the UN resolutions on Kashmir. She informed him about Pakistan's stance on Kashmir and said Pakistan would continue its moral, political and diplomatic support to the Kashmiris for their right to self-determination.

The prime minister referred to the situation in Afghanistan and the efforts made by Pakistan for promotion of prospects of peace and stability there. She said the foreign minister of Pakistan recently visited Afghanistan and met various Afghan leaders. She expressed the confidence that Afghan factions would reach consensus among themselves for the early return of peace to that country.

The prime minister also mentioned the role played by Pakistan in the intra-Tajik talks and said, their third round of talks in Pakistan had led to an agreement for the first time to exchannge POWs and establishment of a joint commission between government and Tajik opposition and the posting on UN observers.

WORKING GROUP

President Akayev strongly endorsed the proposal of the prime minister that a working group be established between Pakistan, China, Kyrgzystan and Kazakhistan to monitor progress on the upgradation of road link between the four countries and that the group should meet every two months to remove any difficulties.

The prime minister invited President Akayev to visit Northern Areas of Pakistan where she said some local inhabitants speaking Kirgyz dialect live and they would be happy to welcome him amongst themselves.

The Kirgyz president praised the skills of leadership of the prime minister and said he was greatly impressed by her.-APP