Confidence building measures are important to further the Indo-Pak peace process, but it is "imperative" to move forward towards conflict resolution, President Pervez Musharraf told visiting United States Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns Saturday.
Musharraf exchanged views on regional issues, bilateral relations and American assistance to Pakistan in relief operations in the quake-hit areas, when Burns who arrived from a visit to India called on him at Rawalpindi.
Indo-Pak peace process and the situation in Afghanistan situation were also discussed in the meeting, an official press release in Islamabad said.
Musharraf apprised Burns of the status of the composite dialogue and the recently held foreign secretary-level talks between Pakistan and India, it said adding, "while noting the importance of confidence building measures, the president underscored the imperative of moving to the conflict resolutions stage", meaning resolution of Kashmir issue.
The Indo-Pak dialogue process also figured in Burns' meeting with Pakistan Foreign Minister Kurshid M Kasuri. An official statement later said Kasuri "underlined Pakistan's commitment to a purposeful and result-oriented dialogue".
He emphasised the need for solution of all outstanding issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, it said, pointing out Kasuri told Burns that durable peace with India was only possible through a resolution of the Kashmir issue to the satisfaction of Pakistan and India and, most importantly, the people of Kashmir.
Significantly, both Kasuri and Burns discussed the Iranian nuclear programme as well as plans by US and European Union to take Tehran to the Security Council on issues relating to nuclear non-proliferation.
Kasuri stressed Pakistan's fundamental interest in seeing the nuclear issue resolved in a peaceful manner, it said.
Pakistan a Sunni majority state, which shares borders with Iran, a Shia majority state, is of the opinion that any US military action against Iran would destabilise the region further and fears that in that situation Pakistan could end up being a frontline state.
Both Burns and Musharraf in their meeting Saturday discussed the forthcoming visit of President George W Bush to South Asia. "We are looking forward to welcoming him in Pakistan," Musharraf told Burns.
The discussion focussed on the various aspects of the visit including its substantive outcome. Both sides would be working closely in preparing for the visit, leading to the further broadening and deepening of bilateral relationship, it said.
There was no reference to Islamabad's stand that US should extend civilian nuclear deal offered to India to Pakistan also.
Ever since the deal was announced during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Washington in 2005, Islamabad has been trying hard to convince America to extend it in order to help it produce 8,000 mw of nuclear power by 2030.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, who is currently in US on a state visit, was expected to formally take up the country's request during his meeting with President George W Bush on January 24.
Burns also discussed various issues with Kasuri, including the attack in which 18 civilians were killed in US missile strikes on a tribal village near Afghan border targeting Al Qaeda number two Ayman al-Zawahiri.
Pakistan government lodged a protest with the US ambassador over the incident. Kasuri told Burns that such incidents were "counter productive" as they inflamed anti-US feeling.
"While reaffirming Pakistan's commitment to counter-terrorism the foreign minister underlined the need for the two countries to work in a manner that precludes recent incidents like Bajur," a ministry statement said.
Earlier in the day, Musharraf is reported to have told Burns "what happened in Bajur must not be repeated".
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