New Delhi, March 23 (IANS): Calling for a "new era of peace and stability", Pakistan's High Commissioner Abdul Basit said on Monday that his country was "keen" to settle the Jammu and Kashmir dispute with India through dialogue.

In line with "Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's vision of 'peace for development and development for peace', Pakistan was keen to settle all the issues with India, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute through dialogues", Basit said in a message on Pakistan National Day.

Speaking at the high commission here, Basit emphasised the need to "normalise" bilateral ties and "usher in a new era of peace and stability, enabling the two countries to address the challenges facing our region and exploiting myriad of opportunities unleashed by globalisation".

He drew upon the importance of peace being in the "mutual interest" of India and Pakistan, said a statement from the high commission.

Kashmiri separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Sunday met the Pakistani envoy for a one-on-one at the latter's residence where they discussed a "new start" in India-Pakistan ties and Jammu and Kashmir.