World forced India to resume talks

ISLAMABAD Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that world pressure has forced India to resume stalled peace talk as the international community has realised the importance of resolution of the lingering Kashmir dispute.
The Prime Minister was addressing a meeting of the Azad Jammu Kashmir Cabinet here at the AJK House on Friday to express solidarity with the Kashmiri brethren on the Kashmir Solidarity Day.
The Prime Minister was to visit Muzaffarabad to express solidarity with Kashmiris but bad weather came his way and the alternate arrangement for his address to AJK cabinet was arranged here at AJK House.
Addressing the gathering of Kashmiri leadership, Prime Minister Gilani said that Pakistan had always sought resolution of the Kashmir dispute peacefully through talks and was strong supporter of making Kashmiris part of the dialogue process.
He said Pakistans principled stance on Kashmir dispute remained unchanged and the Government would continue its political, moral and diplomatic support to the people of Kashmir.
The Prime Minister said that the whole nation was united on the Kashmir issue and Pakistan desired its resolution as per the aspirations of Kashmiri people. Unless the dispute is resolved, lasting peace in the region will remain a dream, he added.
He assured that the Government of Pakistan would release funds for development projects in AJK on priority basis, as it believed that progress of Pakistan was linked to the progress of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
He joined the Kashmiri leaders including AJK President Raja Zulqarnain, Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider, Speaker AJK Assembly, Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan Syed Mehdi Shah, Sardar Sikandar Hayat, members of AJK Cabinet, AJK Council and others in expressing solidarity with them by forming a human chain.
He also inaugurated a number of development projects of bridges and schools that were devastated in the October 8, 2005 earthquake.
Earlier, Prime Minister Gilani inaugurated a number of development projects for Pakistan Occupied Kashmir including five steel bridges in Neelum and Jhelum valleys; five middle schools for boys and girls in Hatian Bala and Muzaffarabad; five girls primary school in Muzaffarabad district with the assistance of the Federal Government; a zonal office of Zarai Taraqiati Bank and a Utility Top Line Super Market in Muzaffarabad.
The leadership of AJK appreciated Prime Minister Gilanis endeavours for raising the Kashmir issue at every forum and thanked the Government and people of Pakistan for their wholehearted support towards their Kashmiri brethren. They also acknowledged him for taking personal interest in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the earthquake affected areas.
Minister for Kashmir Affairs Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo, JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, and Chairman ERRA Altaf Salim also attended the ceremony. Gilani also distributed documents and keys of tractors being distributed under the Benazir Tractor Scheme.
Earlier on his arrival at the Kashmir House, Prime Minister Gilani joined a group of young children from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir in reciting the national anthems of Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.