London: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on October 12 held talks with his British counterpart Tony Blair focusing on the post-poll developments in Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan, terrorism and Iraq crisis.

The meeting at Chequers, the weekend retreat of British Premier, about 50 km from London, took place within hours of Blair's return from Moscow after his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Ahead of the meeting, a spokesman of British Prime Minister's office said a wide range of international, bilateral and regional issues would figure in the talks between Blair and Vajpayee.

Britain is attaching considerable significance to Vajpayee's visit with the two sides sharing concerns on terrorism and charting out a new course for enhanced bilateral cooperation in diversified areas.

While the emphasis from the British side is expected to be once again on nudging India and Pakistan to resume the dialogue to resolve the Kashmir issue, Blair is also likely to do the balancing act by commending India for holding free and fair elections in the state, despite terrorist violence.

Britain has maintained that successful conclusion of Kashmir elections would signal the first step in ushering in peace in South Asia.

PTI