Kashmiri leaders from Indian portion arrive in Pakistani part  | June 02, 2005

June 2, 2005

Xinhuanet

Islamabad-A group of Kashmiri leaders from the India-controlled Kashmir Thursday arrived in Pakistan-administered Kashmir for talks to explore avenues for the settlement of the longstanding Kashmir dispute, the official PTV reported.

India for the first time allowed leaders of the main political alliance of Kashmir, All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), to cross into Pakistani part of the divided Kashmir for talks.

Kashmir leaders, invited by the Pakistani government, were accorded warm welcome when they crossed "Friendship Bridge", whichconnects both parts of Kashmir along the Line of Control.

The delegation led by former chief of APHC.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshiad Mehmood Kasuri said that the Kashmiri leaders will also meet President Pervez Musharraf andPrime Minister Shaukat Aziz during their five-day stay.

India on Wednesday said that the visit of Kashmiri leaders is only confined to Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, Pakistan would be responsible if the Kashmiri leaders left Muzaffarabad.

However, reports suggest that Kashmiri leaders are likely to travel to Islamabad on June 4th for talks with Pakistani leaders.

Allowing Kashmiri leaders to visit Pakistan comes as part of Confidence Building Measures initiated by Pakistan and India some two years ago.

In April this year the two countries agreed to begin a bus linkbetween divided Kashmir to facilitate Kashmiri families separated for more than half a century. Enditem