'Pak committed to peaceful resolution of disputes with India'

Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said his government is committed to improve relations with India by resolving all disputes between the two countries in a "just and peaceful manner".     

In a special message sent to his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh, Gilani said it was "a matter of great pleasure for me to convey my warm felicitations to you and the people of India" on the occasion of India's independence day.     

"Let me take this opportunity to reiterate my government's commitment to improve relations with India by resolving all outstanding disputes between the two countries in a just and peaceful manner," Gilani said in the message issued on the eve of India's independence day.     

The statement came amidst a war of words between the two countries over the prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir. India has protested against Pakistan's comments on protests in the state, saying they amounted to a "clear interference" in its internal affairs.     

Pakistan had said yesterday that it had launched a process to get international bodies like the UN to take note of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and to urge India to stop what it described as "excesses and gross human rights violations" in the northern state.