Resolve Kashmir dispute, Sharif tells India

Washington, Oct 21  Peace can dawn on South Asia only if India and Pakistan resolve their dispute over Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said.

"If we sincerely want to bring peace to the region, we will have to resolve the Kashmir issue," Radio Pakistan quoted Sharif as saying here. 

"The entire world knows that Kashmir is the root cause of tension in the region," he told the Pakistani-American community in Washington.

Sharif also accused India of being insincere vis-a-vis bilateral peace efforts. 

He said while Pakistan wanted friendly relations with all its neighbours including India, New Delhi would have to address the Jammu and Kashmir row.

Sharif is expected to meet US President Barack Obama, Secretary of State John Kerry and Vice President Joe Biden.

Relations between India and Pakistan have been strained in recent months, with each country blaming the other for the diplomatic stalemate.