ISLAMABAD, June 4: President Pervez Musharraf said on Saturday a visit to Pakistan by moderate Kashmiri separatist leaders was a “great leap forward” toward finding a solution to the Kashmir dispute.

“This is a great leap forward in understanding, in flexibility being shown by both sides,” Gen Musharraf told reporters at the airport before leaving for official visits to the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

The president said their visit would boost the peace process with India begun in January 2004. “It is a very important confidence building measure but at the same time it has a great political significance because they had not come on the Indian passports and visas issued by Pakistan,” he said.

“It is a recognition by both India and Pakistan of the disputed status of Kashmir.”

He added that he hoped the visit should lead “to discussion of the resolution of Kashmir, the options open, etc”.—Reuters

The president said that the visit should now lead to discussion for the resolution of Kashmir dispute. “The option is open — we hope that it leads on to that,” adds APP.

President Musharraf said it (Kashmiri leaders’ visit) was a very important confidence building measure, but at the same time it had great political significance because they had not come on Indian passports and visas issued by Pakistan.

“So, it is the recognition of the disputed status of occupied Kashmir by both the countries,” the president said.