Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, chairman of the All Party Hurriyat Conference, has welcomed the joint declaration between India and Pakistan issued at the end of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's [Images] three-day visit to India.

Speaking to rediff.com, Mirwaiz Farooq said the APHC faction is hopeful that the negotiations between India and Pakistan would continue in future to resolve the Kashmir issue.

"It is a welcome statement. We would have been happier if the two sides had agreed to resolve the Kashmir issue within a specific time period. I do not agree with those who allege that the joint statement is a sell-out of the Kashmiri interests," Farooq said.

"The confidence-building measures that the two countries have taken and the new steps that would be initiated would further bring India and Pakistan closer to each other and they in turn help us in resolving the Kashmir problem," he added.