Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Thursday welcomed the statement by his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh regarding reduction of troops in the Indian-held Kashmir, the official Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported.

When asked to comment on a news report, the prime minister told APP that he had not seen the statement "but reduction of troops byany country is welcome."

The Indian prime minister announced Thursday a reduction of troops deployed in Indian-held Kashmir this winter in view of the improvement in the situation in the region.

Meanwhile, Shaukat Aziz left here for Egypt to attend the funeral of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, who died in Paris early in the day. The funeral will be held on Friday in Cairo.

Responding to India's decision, Pakistani Foreign Office Spokesman Masood Khan said, "It's a good decision in the right direction and will help the peace process. It will augur well for the people of held Valley. It will definitely make the atmosphere of the Valley conducive."

The decision will help push forward the peace process between the two countries, said Khan.

The people of Kashmir should also be included in the ongoing dialogue process between India and Pakistan for durable and just solution of the issue, he said.

The spokesman said Islamabad will give a formal response to India's decision later.

Pakistan and India, the two South Asian neighbors, have fought three wars, two of which were over the Kashmir dispute.

Source: Xinhua