Kashmir part of composite dialogue with India, says Pak

Pakistan has welcomed United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's remarks that New Delhi and Islamabad should settle the Kashmir problem bilaterally, and said it looked forward to resumption of the composite dialogue between the two countries to discuss the issue.

"The two countries have agreed to discuss this issue bilaterally by agreeing to the composite dialogue framework. And Kashmir dispute is a part of that framework," said Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit.

"We look forward to discussing the Kashmir issue along with other issues including terrorism," he told an Indian news channel.

When asked if his comments meant that Pakistan would be happy if US did not intervene, Basit said, "I am not saying that. I am just saying that it's a part of composite dialogue and we are looking forward to discussing that."

"But as a matter of fact there are friendly countries; there are countries which are friend to India and friend to Pakistan. And to say that -- both countries to resolve their disputes, I think this suggestion is welcome, as far as Pakistan is concerned," The News quoted Basit as saying.

In an interview to Pakistani news channel, Clinton had said the US wanted India and Pakistan to resolve all their issues bilaterally, including Kashmir.