SUKKUR, Feb 18: Peace between Pakistan and India is mandatory for the prosperity of their people, said the UK Deputy High Commissioner Robert W. Gibbson.

The British government had always encouraged the peace process between the two governments and was still hopeful of close interaction despite the Mumbai incident, he said.

The UK diplomat, visiting Sukkur and other parts of upper Sindh, said this during a reception at the press club on Wednesday.

He conceded that the Kashmir dispute had remained the bone of contention between Pakistan and India ever since their independence in 1947 from British dominance.

He recalled the views of UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband over discontentment between the neighbours and pledged to try to bring them closer.