Islamabad: Describing the offer of talks by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee as a victory for both India and Pakistan, President Pervez Musharraf on April 24 said Islamabad was ready to discuss all issues including Kashmir.

"Pakistan is ready to talk on all issues including Kashmir," Musharraf told a group of editors adding, "Vajpayee's offer of talks is a good move and a victory for both the countries."

Stating that Vajpayee's offer augured well for peace in the region, Musharraf expressed optimism that it would move forward.

He said Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has already welcomed the offer.

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Referring to ongoing agitation by the Opposition over his Presidency and his Constitutional amendments, Musharraf said he was ready to be flexible.

Declining to set a time frame for quitting as chief of Army as demanded by the Opposition, he said he might not continue in that position for five years. He said he would consider quitting the post if the situation improved, but beyond that he would not like to say anything.

The Opposition, which stalled the Parliament on Musharraf's amendments want him to quit as chief of Army as a compromise in order get him elected as President through Parliament.

Musharraf also flayed reports that Pakistan could be the next target of pre-emptive strikes. Stating that nobody would dare to attack Pakistan, which has a missile capability, he dismissed rumours that Pakistan would be the next target of United States. He said Pakistan's turn would not come even one in hundred.

PTI