We'll pursue all possible options on J&K: PM, Musharraf
Press Trust of India Posted online: Thursday, September 15, 2005 at 1559 hours IST Updated: Thursday, September 15, 2005 at 1601 hours IST
New York, September 15: After a marathon four-hour meeting that spilled past midnight, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Pervez Musharraf on Thursday agreed to pursue all possible options for a peaceful negotiated settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir issue while pledging not not to allow terrorism to impede the peace process.
Meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly after sending out clear messages on what they want to be done in regard to resolving bilateral problems, the two leaders issued a four-para joint statement which was read out by President Musharraf after the dinner hosted by Singh at his hotel.
The statement did not not go beyond the well known positions of the two countries as stated in the joint statements that were issued on January 6 last year and April 18 this year when Musharraf and Singh met in Delhi.
The two leaders reviewed progress in their relations since they last met in April and referred to the earlier statements of last year and this April and reiterated their pledge that they would not not 'allow terrorism to impede the peace process'.
"They reaffirmed their commitment to the decisions taken at their meeting in New Delhi and agreed to expedite their implementation. They also welcomed the progress made within the framework of the composite dialogue, including promotion of trade and economic relations, people to people contacts and confidence building measures. They also welcomed the recent release of prisoners on both sides and agreed to continue this process on a humanitarian basis," the statement said.
