US welcomes Musharraf's comments on Kashmir

The US has welcomed the reported suggestion by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf that his country would give up its claim on Kashmir if India accepts his four-point solution, which includes demilitarisation and "self-governance with joint supervision mechanism".

"These are welcome comments and certainly we have encouraged both sides to come together to resolve what has been a thorn in the side of their relationship for many, many decades," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said on Thursday when asked to comment on Musharraf's remarks during an interview to NDTV on Monday.

"Whatever the solution is, certainly the people of the region need to have a voice in it, however the two sides choose to resolve it," McCormack added.

Reacting to a query regarding the remarks, Pakistan Foreign Office had on Wednesday said Musharraf was arguing for "reciprocal flexibility" between New Delhi and Islamabad to find a negotiated settlement to the Kashmir issue.