Pakistan is committed to the cause of Kashmir and is searching for a solution acceptable to the people of Kashmir, said Pakistan's High Commissioner to UK Dr Maleeha Lodhi on Wednesday.
The decision by Pakistan and India to resume composite dialogue on all issues including Kashmir was a "dramatic thaw" she said during an interview here.
"Pakistan is committed to the cause of the Kashmiri people. We are looking and searching for a solution that will be acceptable to the people of Kashmir. That is the most important consideration for us," Maleeha Lodhi told BBC Radio four in an interview.
The important point, she said was that both sides had committed themselves to a dialogue, including a dialogue on Kashmir.
"We see this move as a dramatic thaw in relationship. I think you have to look what happened in the backdrop or what happened a couple of years ago. Only a year a year ago the two countries were locked in a dangerous military stand off".
Both the countries had not only stepped back from the brink of a military confrontation but now were saying to each other that "we want to engage in a real dialogue."
Answering another question, Maleeha said, that whenever there were efforts to put in place a peace process there were questions, raised in minds of the people.
"But we have to wait to see this process unfolds," she said. Pakistan had always believed that it was only through dialogue and not through military means, that the Kashmir issue could be resolved.
"You need a political approach and we are very happy and delighted to see the Indian's to commit themselves," for talks, she said.
The Kashmir problem, she said had been there for over half a century which underscored the need for constructive engagement and that was what, exactly the both countries had committed themselves to do.
Maleeha said as President General Pervez Musharraf had said on Tuesday that this was a good beginning but this was a beginning.
She said the important thing is how the process would move, the important thing is time, both sides need time and energy and commitment in this process in the search for the solution.
Responding to a question on terrorism, she said Pakistan had been a frontline ally of the global coalition against terrorism and had been fighting this menace within and without.
She said one fifth of humanity living in the region had great expectations from it leaders. She expressed confidence that their leadership would live up to the challenge that was ahead of them.
As far as Kashmir is concerned President Musharraf has in recent months speaking a four step approach to help find a solution "that is a win-win for all sides".
President General Pervez Musharraf's four step approach provides a way forward for addressing the Kashmir dispute.
Under this approach the first step was that both Pakistan and India should acknowledge that there was a dispute. The second step was to ensure a sustained dialogue while the third step was that the two countries should look at what was "completely unacceptable" from their point of view.
The fourth step was to look at what was "left on the table," after they had rejected what was unacceptable to the two sides.
Meanwhile in another interview with BBC World Tonight on Monday Maleeha hoped the momentum generated during Saarc summit will be maintained.
She had said President Musharraf four step approach was a very reasonable position and this provides a way forward.
Indian Prime Minister meeting with President Musharraf in Islamabad on Monday Maleeha said, gave the two leaders an opportunity to review the confidence building measures that have been in place and underway between the two countries."
"And they also decided in the meeting to continue the momentum that already exists," said Maleeha.
Responding to another question Maleeha said it was India which had massed a large number of troops on Pakistan's border and the latter responded in a military build which was unprecedented even by South Asian standards.
However she said that "having said that it is important also to see that India decided to de-escalate and step back from the brink. So I think we had a period where the both sides had stepped back from the brink. The important issue is to see what happens next because" the peace process in South Asia had remained rather fragile."
Maleeha said Pakistan was taking in good faith the words that we are hearing from Prime Minister Vajpayee and the Foreign Minister Sinha and we want to take the process forward".