London: Both India and Pakistan have to "give and take in relation to their present positions" on Jammu and Kashmir if a settlement has to come about, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani was on June 18 quoted as having said.

A leading British newspaper, 'The Guardian', reported that the Indian leader had told them in an interview "after all if you disagree so sharply on an issue as India and Pakistan disagree on the question of Jammu and Kashmir and if a settlement has to come about then it can only be in the form of some compromise in which both sides have to give and take in relation to their present positions".

"If the killing of innocents stops, we will find a solution for everything once we start talking," Advani said. He also did not agree with the US assessment that if there were too much pressure on President Pervez Musharraf, he would be dislodged and the one who takes his place would be worse.

"What restrains Washington from exercising influence is the fear, if there is pressure (on Pakistan), the present leader would be dislodged and whoever takes his place would be worse. Our assessment is this is not correct," he said.

PTI