London: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said that both Pakistan and India must take initiatives for an early comprehensive dialogue on all issues, including Kashmir to normalise relations between the two.

"Pakistan has been emphasising the need for early resumption of a comprehensive dialogue to address the Kashmir issue, as it is the main impediment to the development of normal relations between the two countries," Musharraf said in Algiers at the end of his two-day official visit to Algeria.

Recounting the number of confidence-building measures announced by Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali for carrying out a sustained and substantive dialogue with New Delhi, Musharraf, speaking at a banquet hosted by Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, said the international community must convey Islamabad's concerns over the situation in Kashmir.

President Bouteflika said his country would support all people's legitimate right to self-determination.

On the issue of terrorism, both leaders also affirmed their support to end this scourge. "Pakistan is strongly opposed to all forms and manifestations of terrorism, as we ourselves are a victim of terrorism," Musharraf said.

"Pakistan has absolutely zero interest in keeping any foreign national (suspect), in fact. When we catch any non-Pakistani suspect terrorist, we want to send him out as soon as possible," adding that Pakistan's decision to support the international campaign against terrorism was based on principle and its national interests.

Bouteflika said the fight against terrorism must be "transparent and impartial" and within the framework of international legality.

On the Middle East, the two Presidents urged the international community to intensify efforts to force Israel to withdraw from all occupied Arab territories. Musharraf also reaffirmed Pakistan's keenness to develop friendly and co-operative relations with Afghanistan.

Prior to his departure for Morocco, Musharraf held wide-ranging talks with Bouteflika on matters of bilateral, regional and global importance. The talks focused on bilateral ties, the Middle East, Iraq, Afghanistan and the peace process in South Asia.

The highlight of the visit was Pakistan and Algeria signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for consultations on important matters at their Foreign Ministers' level and an agreement for the promotion of cultural ties between the two countries.

ANI