Pakistan wants the Kashmir issue to be resolved through negotiations and by taking into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people, foreign office spokesman Aziz Ahmed Khan said on Monday.

He was reacting to Pakistan occupied Kashmir Prime Minister Sikandar Hayat Khan's suggestion that Kashmir could be divided into Hindu and Muslim areas and amalgamated into India and Pakistan respectively.

"Modalities about how to ascertain the wishes of Kashmiris could be decided after the resumption of talks between India and Pakistan," Khan said. "We cannot speculate on modalities now."

On Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's remarks that Pakistan should end cross-border terrorism, Khan said India should agree for a verification mechanism by international monitors to ascertain its allegations.