ISLAMABAD, Dec 14: President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Thursday expressed optimism about progress on the Kashmir dispute and called upon the international community, including Norway, to facilitate resolution of disputes between Pakistan and India.

He stated this at a meeting with Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store who called on him at his Camp Office in Rawalpindi. While talking about the latest developments on the Pakistan-India front, the president expresses the hope that there would be progress on the Kashmir issue in the light of his proposals, a statement issued by the Foreign Office said.

He also noted that Siachen and Sir Creek issues could be resolved expeditiously with courage, the statement said. In this context the president specifically praised Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his sincerity in resolving bilateral issues.

Given Norway’s keen interest in the peaceful settlement of conflicts, views were also exchanged on other regional issues of mutual concern, particularly the situation in Afghanistan.

“The president outlined Pakistan’s perception on Pakistan-Afghanistan relations, our policy objectives in tribal areas, central elements of combat against terrorism, Pakistan’s contribution to fight against Al Qaeda and approach towards dealing with the threat of radicalism and extremist Taliban as well as rationale behind the four dimensional strategy adopted by Pakistan in North Waziristan,” the statement said.

During the meeting the entire gamut of bilateral relations was also discussed. Expressing satisfaction at the status of bilateral ties, the president emphasised the importance and value attached by Pakistan to its cooperation with Norway.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Store underscored that “Pakistan is more than travelling to a country far away” and said Norway wanted to support Pakistan in achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

The president highlighted the salient aspects of Pakistan’s short-term, mid-term and long-term strategies for energy security and its inextricable linkage with the sustainable development of economy. He underlined that poverty reduction and eradication of unemployment which were at the heart of fight against extremism and terrorism, depended on the good performance of the national economy.

The president also mentioned the National Commission for Human Development’s role and its outreach programmes providing education and health facilities in all over Pakistan. Mr Store promised to “take home this message” and elaborated on Oslo’s emphasis on environment and on developing clean technologies for exploitation and use of energy resources. Norway is the fifth largest investor in Pakistan.

Online adds: President Musharraf urged the international community to ensure peace and stability in Afghanistan keeping in view the ground realities and said that Pakistan had always played an important role for peace in Afghanistan but regretted that “we are still being blamed for creating instability” in the neighbouring country.

Expressing concern over the situation in Afghanistan, President Musharraf said that stability in Afghanistan was in Pakistan’s interest, adding: “We need to look at real problems confronting Afghanistan.” The president said that Pakistan would continue to do its part in the war against terror as it was in its own interest.

Norwegian FM praised President Musharraf’s policies and said that his country supported the president’s enlightened moderation theory, adding that the adoption of Protection of Women Bill was an important step forward. He also appreciated Pakistan’s peace initiatives with respect to Afghanistan.