Islamabad: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has no control over the terrorists operating in Kashmir, and the Indian government must take into account this fact while discussing the issue of cross-border terrorism with Pakistan, chairman of Indian Kashmir Committee Ram Jethmalani said on August 9.

"I think President Musharraf should not be blamed for whatever infiltration is taking place at the moment as even he doesn't have control over a number of militants operating in Kashmir. This is something I have told to related persons in the Indian government," he said in an interview with 'The News'.

Jethamalini is in Islamabad as part of the Indian delegation of Parliamentarians and journalists visiting the neighbouring country on a peace mission.

On the ongoing peace process, he urged Pakistan to keep the present resolve intact, and continue pursuing the issue with the same sincerity.

About the extent of extremism on both sides of the border, Jethmalani said every country had extremist elements and so did India. "Yet, the number of extremist elements was high in Pakistan." He suggested that a complete harmony among the two nations was imperative for initiating an official dialogue towards the end for 50 years of confrontation. Hatred and war had created faithlessness and bad blood, which needed to be neutralised first, he added.

On the possibilities of resolving the Kashmir issue, he said it was a complex issue and would take sometime before a consensus was evolved. He said the process of mutual dialogue must be adopted to resolve the issue, rather involving an arbitrator to break the deadlock. He suggested that both the countries should make headway towards peace and harmony before a third country exploited the tension for furthering its interest.

The Indian delegation, which is in Islamabad on weeklong visit, is likely to meet top Pakistani leadership, including Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali and President Pervez Musharraf.

ANI