London: A day ahead of US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage's visit to New Delhi, India on August 22 asked the international community to press Pakistan to give up its support to "jihadi" elements in Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing a press conference wrapping up a three-day official visit to the United Kingdom, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani said the international community had forced Pakistan to abandon the Taleban in Afghanistan and "similarly it must pressurise Islamabad to give up its sponsorship of jihadis in Jammu and Kashmir".

Asked about the possibility of resumption of dialogue with Pakistan, Advani said the "test lies in Pakistan's abandoning cross-border terrorism as a matter of state policy".

"The day they do it, we are prepared for dialogue on all issues, including Kashmir," he asserted.

The Deputy Prime Minister said although the international community had begun to appreciate India's stand on cross-border terrorism and global support was welcome, "we are absolutely clear that the struggle (against terrorism) ultimately has to be fought effectively and won with our own strength."

Advani said turnout of voters in coming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir would be much higher if Pakistan stopped meddling and trying to sabotage the Democratic process in the state.

Advani said he favoured a confederation of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh saying, "Just as the whole of Europe had come together to form a union, why can't we?"

PTI