UNITED NATIONS, Sept 22: President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday gave an upbeat assessment of Pakistan-India relations , saying that both countries "desire a resolution of the Kashmir dispute, which is just and acceptable to India, Pakistan and the people of Kashmir".

Addressing the 59th General Assembly ahead of his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, President Musharraf said: "After several aborted attempts, Pakistan and India have been able to initiate confidence-building measures and a composite dialogue this year to address all outstanding issues."

"Pakistan," he stressed "has pursued this process with complete sincerity, giving bilateralism a final chance." "It has always been my conviction that Pakistan and India can resolve all differences, including Kashmir through sincere dialogue."

He said the dangerous wars and confrontation of previous years between the two countries had demonstrated that there was no military solution to their problems. Saying that Pakistan and India must achieve peace for the impoverished people of the region, Gen Musharraf expressed the hope that while grappling with previously unresolved, irreconcilable differences, 'India shows the same flexibility, boldness that Pakistan will demonstrate'.

Underscoring that resolution of the Kashmir dispute should not be delayed, the president said: "We seek strategic stability with India," adding that "until now the normalization process has progressed well".

IRAQ: Noting that Iraq had taken a turn for the worse, he said Pakistan stood for restoration of peace and stability in Iraq ensuring its unity and territorial integrity.

He called for the handing over of governance and authority to the Iraqi people, allowing them full control over their natural resources. Gen Musharraf said that at an opportune time and, on the request of the people and the government of Iraq, the Muslim world could play a role in bringing peace and harmony to this conflict-torn nation.

SECURITY COUNCIL EXPANSION: Reflecting upon the efforts of India, Japan, Germany and Brazil to secure a permanent seat in the UN Security Council, President Musharraf noted that there was no agreement on the aspiration of a few states to acquire permanent membership of the Security Council.

He observed that an overwhelming majority of member states were against the creation of new centres of privilege. The president said the "council should be enlarged to ensure representation of the mostly small and medium states," but added that "we have to consider new ideas to craft a consensus on the enlargement of the elected members of Security Council".

IRON CURTAIN: President Musharraf warned that an 'iron curtain' was falling between the Islamic world and the West as Muslims feel they are getting no justice in international disputes, adds AFP.

"There is no time to lose," he added. "Justice must be offered in the form of resolution of all outstanding international disputes which affect the Muslims." "Action has to be taken before an iron curtain finally descends between the West and the Islamic world," he stressed.

"The major powers of the West have yet to show movement by seriously trying to resolve internationally recognized disputes affecting the Muslim world," he said. President Musharraf put special emphasis on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, mentioning both Israel's 'daily atrocities' as well as 'misguided' suicide attacks by Palestinians.

"The tragedy of Palestine is an open wound inflicted on the psyche of every Muslim. It generates anger and resentment across the Islamic world," he maintained. "The world today sees turmoil and upheaval everywhere - especially in the Third World and more specifically in the Muslim world. Too many fronts have been opened, too many battle lines drawn," the president said.

President Musharraf also urged industrialised nations to support 'an Islamic renaissance' through financial and technical assistance and larger trade opportunities.