A mellow Musharraf at the UN

Pakistan is committed to resolving all disputes with India, including the Kashmir issue, President Pervez Musharraf said in his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday.

All issues can be resolved through sincere dialogue, he said, adding that both countries cannot ignore the Kashmir dispute.

Also Read Musharraf, Bush reaffirm friendship Bush calls for Democracy Fund Kumaratunga too takes a dig at US Bush stresses Mideast reform Kofi Annan rings Peace Bell

"We desire a solution on Kashmir which is just and acceptable to India, Pakistan and the people of Kashmir," he said, noting that the normalisation process has progressed well in a cordial atmosphere.

Now that the negotiations are entering the difficult stage of having to find solutions to previously irreconcilable disputes, he said, "Islamabad hopes that India will show the same sincerity, flexibility and boldness that Pakistan will demonstrate."

"I look forward to my meeting day after tomorrow with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. I would like to convey to him that this is the moment for peace... we must not allow it to slip away."

His speech was a lot mellower to those in earlier years, likely because he will meet Singh for the first time on September 24 on the sidelines of the UNGA.

He said that the dangerous confrontation of 2002 and the three wars that the two countries have fought since independence have demonstrated that there is no military solution to the problems.

"Neither country can achieve its ambition of social and economic progress in the absence of peace," he said.

"We must achieve peace for the sake of impoverished people of South Asia for their development and prosperity."