Musharraf, Gilani greet India for I-day

Even as it sought to 'internationalise' the Jammu and Kashmir situation, Pakistan said on Thursday it was committed to improving relations with India and resolving all outstanding issues in a just and peaceful manner for the progress and prosperity of the two countries.

The assurances were conveyed by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani as they extended greetings to their Indian counterparts Pratibha Patil and Manmohan Singh on the occasion of Independence Day.

In his message to Patil, Musharraf said, "Let me reiterate Pakistan's commitment to peaceful resolution of all outstanding disputes so that we can together usher in an era of peace, progress and prosperity for our two peoples."

Extending "warm felicitations" to government and people of this country in a letter to Singh, Gilani said Pakistan is committed 'to improve relations with India by resolving all outstanding disputes between the two countries in a just and peaceful manner'.

The messages were extended even as Pakistan 'condemned' police action in Jammu and Kashmir and said it was moving to approach the international community, particularly the United Nations, Organisation of Islamic Conference and human rights bodies to draw their attention to the happenings in the state.

The series of comments by Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and foreign office spokesman Mohammad Sadiq angered New Delhi, which asked Islamabad to desist immediately from interfering in India's internal affairs and stop "rhetoric".