Islamabad: President Pervez Musharaf has declared that he will not be a hurdle before talks with India and Prime Minister Mir Zafarulla Khan Jamali will confer with his counterpart Atal Behari Vajpayee.

He made this observation during a telephonic interview with 'Jang' on May 26 evening in response to a question whether the Indian premier was giving an impression that he (Musharraf) was an obstacle to Indo-Pak dialogue, reports 'The News'.

"The Indian Prime Minister has talked to our Prime Minister, who will talk to him (Vajpayee)," he said. "We have taken first step towards improvement of relations with India and Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali first contacted the Indian leadership. I am fully backing the Prime Minister in this regard," Musharraf added.

Answering a question, he said Pakistan wanted an end to oppression in Jammu and Kashmir. "We have adopted the course of dialogue with India thoughtfully and process of confidence- building measures is going on. We have sent our proposals for restoration of ties to India and they (Indians) are considering them," the daily quoted the General as saying.

The proposal for declaration of South Asia as a nuclear-free zone was, he claimed, floated by Pakistan and Islamabad was continuously working on this matter. Pakistan was ready to hold talks with India on this issue.

About the Indian proposal about intelligence-sharing with Pakistan to check terrorism, the President remarked that if any concrete proposal came from India, Pakistan was ready to look into it.

About ongoing stalemate about Constitutional issues at home, Musharraf said the committee, comprising leaders from the government and the Opposition sides, has done adequate work to sort out these issues, and the government was considering the matter. "When talks among Parliamentary groups concluded and they made any headway, I would be able to meet all Parliamentary leaders including those belonging to the Opposition," he informed, the newspaper added.

ANI