Date:20/09/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/20/stories/2006092022310100.htm

Front Page

Musharraf exudes confidence on peace process

Gen. Pervez Musharraf

United Nations: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday exuded confidence that his ``positive'' meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Havana will help to carry forward the peace process in the region and resolve various issues facing the two nations, including Kashmir.

Addressing the 192-member U.N. General Assembly, he said: ``Pakistan desires a peaceful environment in the region. We have been engaged in a peace process with India, aimed at confidence building and resolving issues, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, which have been the source of tension and conflict between the two countries in the past.''

Improved relations and conducive international environment had brought ``an acceptable solution of this long-standing dispute within reach,'' he said. Stressing that stable security environment was also important for peace in the region, Gen. Musharraf commended Pakistan's proposal to create a ``Strategic Restraint Regime'' in South Asia, encompassing minimum nuclear deterrence and a balance of conventional forces.

``We do not want to enter into an arms race. But we will do whatever is necessary to preserve the credibility of our minimum defensive deterrence level,'' he said. Referring to terrorism, he advocated a strategy that would to seek to eliminate it comprehensively.

— PTI