Pakistan on Friday advocated inclusion of Kashmiri leaders in the peace process with India, saying they should be made an 'integral component' of the dialogue to resolve the vexed issue.
"We believe that there is a need for India and Pakistan to build on their convergences and narrow down their divergences on Kashmir," Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani said in an address to a session of the Council of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
The Kashmiri leaders should be made 'an integral component' of the peace process, Gilani said.
"The frequent meetings of the Pakistani leadership with the Kashmiri leaders also reflect our approach of greater involvement of the Kashmiri leaders with the peace process. We strongly believe that Kashmiris should be an integral component of the ongoing peace process as they are the primary stakeholders," he said.
Peace and stability in South Asia 'can only be guaranteed if all outstanding issues between Pakistan and India, including the Kashmir dispute, are resolved. Pakistan is ready to reverse the course of confrontation in South Asia,' Gilani said.
Turning to recent violence in the state, he alleged that there was 'flagrant human rights violations'.
"The recent unrest and violence in Kashmir is a matter of great concern for Pakistan. The government of Pakistan has condemned the excessive use of force by the Indian security forces against the people of Kashmir, which led to the (death) of several Kashmiris, including Sheikh Abdul Aziz, a prominent Hurriyat leader."
His comments came days after President Asif Ali Zardari announced that there would be 'some good news' on Kashmir by the end of this month.
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