Calling upon the world to look at Pakistan as a victim of terrorism, President Asif Zardari Tuesday (Sept 9) vowed to give a good news to the nation on Kashmir issue soon.

Addressing his maiden press conference as President immediately after taking oath of office Zardari, jointly with his visiting Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai, said: “Pakistan and Afghanistan are friends and have resolved to stand by each other rather than standing in each other’s way.” He added: “This message is not for Afghanistan alone but for all our neighbours to make the region a peaceful abode for the people living in this part of the world.”

To a question about Kashmir, the newly-elected President said that the Pakistan Peoples Party has a clear policy on Kashmir and it would take all parties, in Parliament and outside, into confidence including Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif.

“We would proceed on the fast lane towards the resolution of the matter. It would be a process carried out entirely by Parliament. A good news may come in a month's time. The Kashmir Committee of Parliament would be constituted soon, which would take it up shortly and you would hear a good news in this regard within a months time from now,” he stated in categorical terms. Apart from the ongoing composite dialogue with India, some back-channel talks and activities are also underway to strike an early resolution of the problem.

At the same time, Zardari hoodwinked a question regarding the reinstatement of deposed chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry by only answering a part of the query by saying that he had nothing to settle in person against anyone.

Earlier, during their opening statements, the two Presidents vowed to continue working together against the menace of terrorism. They called upon the international community to extend fullest possible assistance and help for both the countries that have been victims of terrorism for longer period of time.

Responding to the questions about killing of civilians, especially women and children, during the American’s raids inside Pakistani territory, Zardari said Pakistani government had protested while Afghan President regretted these deaths terming it as a serious matter.

He informed that he would also lodge protest with the Bush administration during upcoming visit to the US.

Karzai was of the view that it was the Pushtuns on both sides of the border who had suffered the most in this war on terror.

Zardari announced that he would go to world leaders for establishing a fund, probably under the UN auspices, to help the victims of the terrorism to reconstruct and rehabilitate.

To a question on the probe into the murder of Benazir Bhutto, Zardari said: “Yes, the government has already requested the UN for assistance and I would check about the progress personally when I would visit there.”

Earlier, Hamid Karzai said, he had a “very hearty” meeting with his counterpart Asif Zardari, who is a man of vision and hoped that the start of a new democratic era in Pakistan and similar openings in Afghanistan six years back would augur well in achieving stability and progress in the region.

Karzai said both the countries have been suffering from the menace of terrorism carried out by the same evil on both sides of the border. “Even our sister, former prime pinister of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto, a world leader par excellence, was killed in a cowardly act of terrorism,” he regretted.

Responding to the question of complaints from Afghanistan, he said: “Afghan people and the government’s feeling towards Pakistan are very well expressed by our visit just to congratulate your new president and to attend his oath taking ceremony.” He agreed to a questioner underlining the need for enhancing the cooperation at the level of existing tripartite commission, involving three countries, namely Pakistan, Afghanistan and the US. Even establishing of more such fora of cooperation could also be explored, Karzai added.

To a question on control of Pakistani territory by the terrorists, Zardari said, “not even an inch of Pakistani territory would be surrendered at any cost and no element or force would be allowed to control any part of the country’s land.” Asked whether the attacks by the US led forces killing the civilians were acts of terror, Zardari said, “NATO forces were in Afghanistan under the UN Charter.”

Answering question about the energy crisis in the country, he said, “We are not just looking for any sources of energy but for cheaper sources of energy that our people could afford as well.”

He did not like the idea of going to International Monetary Fund for budgetary support. He said, rather than that “we would follow a tight monetary and budgetary control to achieve fiscal balance." To start with, he said, “I announce to cut the budget of the presidency so as to initiate a trend of cost cutting down the line.” About the price hike, he said, “the government was working hard to address the problem of price hike.” He mentioned about the last price fixing of wheat by the government and vowed to fix even better support price for the crop in its next sowing season.

Asked about the freedom of media, he said, the Pakistan Peoples Party always believed in democracy and free media. The government, therefore, would work for the betterment of the journalists so that they could play their due role in the development of the country, he added.