US, OIC praises President’s stand on Kashmir

WASHINGTON—The US State Department has welcomed proposals by President Pervez Musharraf for resolution of Kashmir issue.
Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) called India to come forward for resolution of the Kashmir problem. State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack said the United States has been encouraging the two sides for some time to resolve their differences over Kashmir. “Whatever the solution is, certainly the people of the region need to have a voice in it, however the two sides choose to resolve it, McCormack said. OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu in a statement issued from the organization’s Jeddah headquarters welcomed President Musharraf’sfour-point formulae for solution of the Kashmir issue. The OIC advised India to take the opportunity with a positive mindset. The OIC would continue to encourage Pakistan and India for seeking a just solution of the lingering problem of Kashmir, the statement added.—Agencies