ISLAMABAD, Feb 15: Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri on Tuesday expressed the hope that talks with his Indian counterpart would be productive and emphasized that they both had to shoulder the heavy responsibility of carrying forward the Indo-Pakistan peace process.

Talking to Dawn, Mr Kasuri said: "I hope this meeting with my Indian counterpart Mr Natwar Singh will be productive and I hope that he shares my sentiments on this."

In reply to a question about his expectations from Mr Singh's first bilateral visit to Pakistan, he pointed to strong pro-peace lobbies in both the countries that wanted lasting peace in South Asia.

"It is a heavy responsibility on the shoulders of the two governments and the foreign ministers to see that the optimism and goodwill that prevails is not diluted in any way," he said.

The foreign minister stressed that both the governments needed the support of their peoples to carry forward the peace process for which, he said, political will was absolutely essential.

Without going into the specifics, he asserted that Pakistan had demonstrated political will at all levels - the president, the prime minister and the foreign minister. Pakistan had the political will to take the necessary steps and it had demonstrated this will, he maintained.

When Mr Kasuri's attention was drawn to recent reports in media about a possible breakthrough in the proposed Kashmir bus service, he said: "Let us hope that these reports prove to be correct."

He said that all the top Kashmiri leaders he had met on both sides of the Line of Control were opposed to the use of visas and passports. He pointed out that up to 1952-53 there was no such requirement.

Noting that the start of the bus service would be a major confidence-building measure specific to Kashmir, he said Pakistan would welcome it as it was in the interest of greater access to individuals and divided families.

When Mr Kasuri's comments were sought on India's reported suggestion that the proposed Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline be extended to China, Mr Kasuri was receptive to the idea.

Pakistan and China were close friends and allies, and in principle, anything that could bring them closer would be welcomed by the people and the government of Pakistan, he said. "I do not know the nitty-gritty of such a proposal but it would be welcomed by both the government and the Pakistani people," he added.