New Delhi: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has rejected India's demand for handing over 20 wanted terrorists and criminals who have taken refuge in that country.

Musharraf also refused to make any comment on the activities of underworld don and a prime accused in the 1993 Mumbai blasts Dawood Ibrahim, who is reportedly staying in Karachi.

Without denying the presence of terrorists in Pakistan, who masterminded the December 13 attack on Indian Parliament, the Pakistani President claimed in an interview to "Aaj Tak" TV channel that his government would go all out to nab the terrorists.

Harping on the Kashmir issue, Musharraf made it clear that no Pakistani leader could afford the risk of ignoring it and one who did would be ousted from the country, according a press release by the TV channel.

"Kashmir is, therefore, a compulsion in any bilateral talks between India and Pakistan," he said, adding that there could never be a dialogue between the two countries without Kashmir being the core issue.

Rebutting New Delhi's charge of Pakistan sponsoring cross-border terrorism in Kashmir, Musharraf responded with his oft-repeated claim that the people in Kashmir were fighting for their "freedom".

The Pakistan leader said he was ready to initiate a dialogue with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on Kashmir while acknowledging that it was an issue under the 1972 Simla Agreement.

PTI