Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf Tuesday expressed the hope that Pakistan and India would address the substantive issues, particularly the Jammu and Kashmirdispute with the same spirit as shown by them on commencing Muzaffarabad-Srinagar Bus Service, the official Associated Press of Pakistan reported here Tuesday.

He said this when he met with the visiting delegation from India, led by Harkishan Singh Surjeet, General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), and A. B. Barkhan, General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI ).

While commending the commencement of Muzaffarabad-Srinagar Bus Service, the President hoped that flexibility shown by them will be exhibited on other issues as well.

He stressed that the two sides should avoid to add new irritants to their relations.

The president informed the visitors that Pakistan was willing to discuss Baglihar dam issue with India bilaterally, provided theIndian government stopped construction work on the project.

President Musharraf appreciated the role of the Indian Communist Party leaders in promoting the cause of peace and amity in the region.

He also appreciated the support and cooperation of the Left Front to the composite dialogue process.

The President apprised the dignitaries about the current statusof Pakistan-India dialogue process.

In response to the request by the visiting Indian Communist Party leaders, the President directed that Sikh youth, who crossedover into Pakistan and were currently detained in jails, be released immediately.

The two Indian leaders currently are on a visit to Pakistan from Feb. 24 to March 4. CPI (M) and CPI are the two major coalition partners of the Left Front in the current government in India.

Source: Xinhua