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Is US using the Kashmir issue to try and get a permanent foothold in South Asia? Post your views

London: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on June 17 accused India of "blackmailing" on Kashmir issue and claimed the line of control (LoC) dividing India and Pakistan was peaceful and "there is nothing happening there".

Emerging from an hour-long meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair at 10, Downing Street, he told reporters that he was sure there was no cross-border terrorism between India and Pakistan.

"There is nothing happening on the line of control. Now let us not be blackmailed on this issue by the Indian side, as some of their leaders continuously harp on this issue. Whereas I am very sure nothing is happening on the line of control," Musharraf told a questioner.

He said such kinds of statements were used by India to "put us on the defensive and try to prove to the whole world that Pakistan is behind all that is happening in Kashmir. Not at all. Whatever is happening is indigenous and is nothing at the moment is happening across the line of control."

Blair, during his talks with visiting Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani on June 16, had expressed complete understanding of India's position regarding Kashmir that there could be no meaningful dialogue unless cross-border terrorism ended and training facilities for extremists in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) were dismantled.

Musharraf expressed confidence that the United States and Britain understood Pakistan's position. "They very much appreciate whatever the government is doing," he said.

Musharraf said his government was "against any form of extremism in Pakistan, any form of religious extremism in Pakistan".

Such extremism, he said, "has three forms, al-Qaida, the Taleban and our own religious extremists and militants. We are operating against all three and we are meeting all success in that."

Stating that he had a "wholesome" discussion with Blair, Musharraf said the British Prime Minister recognised the Kashmir issue could not be sidelined in dialogue between India and Pakistan.

"Blair is very conscious of the necessity of initiating the process of dialogue and the dialogue should be wholesome dialogue, all inclusive and cannot ignore Kashmir. He is very clear about it and I am fully satisfied with his ideas and thoughts," Musharraf said.

During his talks, Musharraf was assisted by Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz, Foreign Secretary Riaz Khokhar and Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK Abdul Kader Jaffer. Blair was helped by Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and the UK High Commissioner to Islamabad Mark Lyall Grant.

Musharraf said, "Blair's views on Kashmir are very clear. He is for discussing the Kashmir issue and going for a resolution of the issue and that is what he can do," Musharraf said.

He said resolution of Kashmir issue depends on Pakistan, India and the people of Jammu and Kashmir. "British Prime Minister can only facilitate and encourage us on going towards a solution," he said.

PTI