US President George W. Bush today expressed hope a solution will be found to the ‘‘historically difficult’’ Kashmir problem even as visiting Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said India and Pakistan are ‘‘moving well’’ in the dialogue process.‘‘We discussed our bilateral relations and relations between India and Pakistan. We hope there will be a peaceful solution to what has been a historically difficult problem between India and Pakistan,’’ Bush said, with Musharraf sitting besides him, after the 40 minute-meeting at the White House. However, Bush did not mention Kashmir by name.‘‘We are moving well on the issue of confidence building measures. And also the dialogue process towards resolution of disputes,’’ Musharraf, who flew in here yesterday after a tour of three Latin American states, told reporters.‘‘We hope that we will move forward in all resolution of all disputes and the core dispute happens to be Kashmir, therefore moving forward on that. I’m Very optimistic of the future,’’ he said.Asked whether the sale of F-16s was discussed, Musharraf said it was, but he did not elaborate. ‘‘We discussed the the F-16 issue. That is all I would like to say,’’ he said. Also, discussion of West Asia was a key part of the talks with Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, Bush told reporters. ‘‘I assured President Musharraf that there is an opportunity at hand to work toward the development of a Palestinian state and peace in the Middle East,’’ Bush said. ‘‘I told him this will be a priority of my administration.”Rumsfeld staysWASHINGTON: US President George Bush has asked Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to stay for a second term to keep running the Iraq war and adapting the military to face post-Cold War threats, an official said on Friday. —Reuters
