ISLAMABAD, 21 July 2004 — Pakistan’s new prime minister vowed yesterday to pursue peace with rival India and resolve a decades-old dispute over Kashmir, at the heart of hostilities between the nuclear-armed South Asian neighbors.

Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, who became prime minister last month for an interim period only, told a seven-nation regional meeting of foreign ministers that the resumption of dialogue between Pakistan and India augured well.

Pakistani and Indian diplomats have had informal talks on the sidelines of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) economic forum being held in Islamabad. “I want to assure all members of SAARC and indeed the world that Pakistan is committed to pursuing peace with India,” Shujaat said.

“I am happy to report that with the vision and the will Pakistan has under the leadership of President (Pervez) Musharraf, we have embarked upon a meaningful effort to resolve all differences and disputes with India including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir.”

Despite positive official statements, there is little tangible sign of how India and Pakistan intend to bridge their differences over Kashmir, which they both claim.

One key proposal is to revive a bus route between the two capitals of the divided region, but talks on the link have been blocked by disagreement over passenger documentation.

Tens of thousands of people have died in a 15-year rebellion in Indian Kashmir that New Delhi blames on Pakistani militants but which Islamabad says is a struggle against Indian rule in the Muslim-majority area.

Pakistani foreign ministry spokesman Masood Khan rejected comments made by US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage last week that some militant training camps had yet to be dismantled in Pakistani Kashmir.