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Kashmir issue

for meaningful

talks with

India: Benazir

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto on Wednesday reiterated Pakistan's stance for holding a meaningful dialogue with India to solve the longstanding Kashmir issue.

In her speech at a lunch she hosted for the President of Azerbaijan Haider Aliyev she said, "we are ready to enter into a constructive and meaningful dialogue with India to resolve the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan wishes to have tension- free relations with all its neighbours."

The dispute, Benazir said, continues to cast a dark shadow on the security environment of South Asia.

"India cannot forever keep the Kashmiri people in subjugation. It cannot deny them their right to self-determination -- a right pledged to them by India, Pakistan and the UN Security Council," she added.

Benazir said the people of Jammu and Kashmir have been waging a valiant struggle to determine their own destiny despite the massive use of brutal military force by India.

"We expect the international community to harken to the voice of their conscience and use their influence with India effectively to make it honour its commitments."

She expressed the hope that Azerbaijan will continue to extend its support and understanding for a just settlement of the Kashmir issue.

Benazir also condemned Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan and said Pakistan fully supported measures for a peaceful solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem.

She said Pakistan desires cooperation in political, economic, commercial, cultural, scientific and technological fields with Azerbaijan. "Our businessmen are keen to see commercial and investment opportunities in your country. We are ready to contribute to your efforts to build a free market economy in Azerbaijan," added Benazir.

The agreements, she said, signed during Azerbaijan President's last visit to Pakistan have helped establish a framework for bilateral relations.

On the Afghan issue, Benazir said the people in that country must themselves achieve national reconciliation by rising above their ethnic and factional differences.

She also hoped that Tajik people will learn from mistakes of their Afghan neighbours and resolve their differences through a political dialogue under the UN auspices.

"We hosted the third round of inter-Tajik Peace Talks in Islamabad, manifesting Pakistan's keen desire to have peace and stability in the region."

Prime Minister Benazir welcomed the successful completion of the first Parliamentary elections held in Azerbaijan recently.-APP