Expressing satisfaction over the second round of the Composite Dialogue process, Pakistan President Pervez Musharaf said on Friday that the Kashmir issue should be addressed in a 'focussed manner' and sought withdrawal of troops from 'urban centres' in Jammu and Kashmir.
Musharraf, during his meeting with Indian Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran in Rawalpindi, 'emphasised the need to seek a final settlement acceptable to Pakistan, India and the people of Kashmir,' an official release said.
'The president expressed satisfaction that the second round has been completed with some positive development,' it added.
In his meeting with Saran, Musharraf also hoped that there would be an end to 'human rights violation and withdrawal of troops from the urban centres would help in raising the comfort level of the Kashmiri people,' it said. It also added that he told Saran that he looked forward to his meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh later this month in New York.
Referring to his meeting with Dr Singh in April this year, Musharraf said, "improved atmospherics had created conducive environment to make real progress on all issues, particularly the Jammu and Kashmir dispute."
On his part, Saran conveyed the greetings of President A P J Abdul Kalam and the prime minister to Musharraf. He said that Dr Singh was committed to the peace process and was keen to see progress in the composite dialogue between the two countries.