<p>"There have been confidence building measures on the Kashmir issue, but unfortunately, things have not moved at the desired pace," Pakistan's Additional Foreign Secretary Asia-Pacific, Masood Khalid, told a group of visiting Sri Lankan Journalists in Islamabad.<br /><br />"The alienation of Kashmiris has to be addressed and Pakistan is agreeable to a meaningful and purported dialogue on the issue," Khalid was quoted as saying by 'Island' newspaper here.<br /><br />On Sri Lanka, he expressed Pakistan's happiness at the LTTE threat being eliminated and said Islamabad hoped that South Asia as a whole could be turned into a peaceful and prosperous region.<br /><br />Khalid said he was pleased to note that his country's defence assistance to Sri Lanka, including training, had helped it in its military operations against the LTTE.<br /><br />"We are happy that Sri Lanka has resolved the LTTE issue and fully support its development, peace and stability," Khalid was quoted as saying by the newspaper.<br /><br />"South Asia as a whole, has been in turmoil and we desire peace and stability. This has been our point of emphasis," he said.<br /><br />A peaceful and stable neighbourhood will help South Asian countries focus on important issues such as economic development and better health and welfare facilities for its people, Khalid said.<br /><br />On the question of Pakistan helping eliminate the remaining LTTE presence in various foreign countries, he said that his government was already occupied with battling internal militancy issues.<br /><br />But as a matter of principle, Pakistan considers terrorism a regional issue and has entered into security treaties with various countries, aimed at eradicating the menace, Khalid said.<br /><br />Sri Lanka-Pakistan relations could be taken to greater heights by improving people-to-people contacts and cultural exchanges, he was quoted as saying by the paper.</p>
<p>"There have been confidence building measures on the Kashmir issue, but unfortunately, things have not moved at the desired pace," Pakistan's Additional Foreign Secretary Asia-Pacific, Masood Khalid, told a group of visiting Sri Lankan Journalists in Islamabad.<br /><br />"The alienation of Kashmiris has to be addressed and Pakistan is agreeable to a meaningful and purported dialogue on the issue," Khalid was quoted as saying by 'Island' newspaper here.<br /><br />On Sri Lanka, he expressed Pakistan's happiness at the LTTE threat being eliminated and said Islamabad hoped that South Asia as a whole could be turned into a peaceful and prosperous region.<br /><br />Khalid said he was pleased to note that his country's defence assistance to Sri Lanka, including training, had helped it in its military operations against the LTTE.<br /><br />"We are happy that Sri Lanka has resolved the LTTE issue and fully support its development, peace and stability," Khalid was quoted as saying by the newspaper.<br /><br />"South Asia as a whole, has been in turmoil and we desire peace and stability. This has been our point of emphasis," he said.<br /><br />A peaceful and stable neighbourhood will help South Asian countries focus on important issues such as economic development and better health and welfare facilities for its people, Khalid said.<br /><br />On the question of Pakistan helping eliminate the remaining LTTE presence in various foreign countries, he said that his government was already occupied with battling internal militancy issues.<br /><br />But as a matter of principle, Pakistan considers terrorism a regional issue and has entered into security treaties with various countries, aimed at eradicating the menace, Khalid said.<br /><br />Sri Lanka-Pakistan relations could be taken to greater heights by improving people-to-people contacts and cultural exchanges, he was quoted as saying by the paper.</p>