Srinagar, Dec 12: The moderate Hurriyat Conference, led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, today welcomed Pakistan's assertion that the contentious Kashmir issue must be settled in accordance with the aspirations of the people.

In a statement here, a Hurriyat spokesman said the present scenario demanded realism and courage which had been fully demonstrated by Pakistan for the resolution of the Kashmir issue.

The spokesman expressed the hope that Pakistan's flexibility and courage would pay the dividends in future. ''Pakistan had always advocated respect to the wishes of the people of Jammu and Kashmir in any solution to the vexed issue,'' he added.

He also hailed the proposals of demilitarisation, self-governance and joint management by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and hoped that India would reciprocate to bring about a lasting peace in the South Asian region.

Pakistan had yesterday said it never claimed Jammu and Kashmir as an integral part of its territory.

Foreign Office spokesperson Tasneem Aslam, in the routine press briefing in Islamabad yesterday, said it was up to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to decide whether they would like to be part of Pakistan.

''For the past 60 years, we have not claimed Jammu and Kashmir to be an integral part of Pakistan...In case the people of Jammu and Kashmir are able to decide, it is our hope that they would opt for Pakistan,'' she added.


UNI