Nicosia: Cyprus on October 8 strongly condemned Pakistan-sponsored cross border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, saying religion cannot be used to justify armed action and extended its full support to India's candidature for a permanent membership in an enlarged UN Security Council.

During talks with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee in Nicosia, Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides shared India's view that cross border terrorism was a "major stumbling block" in the search for a solution to the protracted Kashmir problem.

On Jammu and Kashmir elections, the Cypriot leader said fanaticism and terrorism should not be allowed to derail the democratic process in the state.

He said composite dialogue between India and Pakistan to resolve their differences had to be based on Simla and Lahore agreements, Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal told reporters.

Cyprus also backed Indian initiative of a Comprehensive Convention against Terrorism at the UN, he said.

PTI