Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has "understood" that confidence building measures between the two countries should go hand in hand with the composite dialogue process and that the Kashmir issue cannot be sidelined.
Musharraf told Pakistan journalists on board his plane enroute to Amsterdam for a state visit to Netherlands that he stressed the importance of confidence building measures going in tandem with the composite dialogue process during his meeting with Singh and 'the Indian Prime Minister showed an understanding of this'.
Describing the outcome of his meeting with Singh as a 'victory for peace', he said it augurs well for both countries. "No one has lost, both countries have gained, peace has gained, it is the victory of peace, which augurs well."
In his first detailed comments on his maiden meeting with Singh, Musharraf sounded hopeful about the future the course of the dialogue process.
"I have been urging that both countries should step back from their maximalist positions and the joint statement exactly reflects that," he was quoted as saying by the official APP newsagency today.
"I found Manmohan Singh an extremely sincere man and saw a desire in him to address the lingering issues sincerely I am hopeful about future," he said.
President Musharraf, who presented Manmohan Singh a painting and a photo album of Indian leader's native village, primary school and old friends living near Pakistan's Chakwal district, said Singh was greatly touched by the gesture.
During the meeting, the two sides also discussed the issue of gas pipeline to India via Pakistan, Musharraf said, adding it would be beneficial for both countries. "So, therefore, we need to proceed progressively."
On whether the issue of him retaining the post of Chief of Army came up for discussion with US President George W Bush, he said "It was not at all mentioned during the meeting."
He dismissed the impression that operation in Wana in South Waziristan, where Pakistani forces have been taking actions against Al-Qaeda-linked terrorists came up for discussion with the US leader.
"We did discuss the war against terrorism in an overall perspective but did not discuss Wana particularly, we discussed bilateral relations, Pakistan-India relations and Afghanistan with reference to security situation for October 9 election process."
Describing his six-day visit as 'successful', he said his address to the UN, interaction with the media and bilateral meetings provided an opportunity to project effectively Pakistan's position on key issues of the day.
