Islamabad: Observing that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has been "extremely positive" towards the dialogue process, President Pervez Musharraf has said that a solution to the Kashmir issue could be found only if India and Pakistan show "boldness and courage" to shun "maximalist" positions.

"I'm very reasonably sure that this process of initiation of dialogue won't be a problem. Now when we come to getting to solutions, I would say that there is going to be a problem not only for India, but even for me, for Pakistani Government. Because there are extremists on both sides... who take extremist positions, maximalist positions, now if you are rigidly following your maximalist positions you are not going to reach a solution obviously.

"So when you try to compromise through a give and take, you are going to have an extremist attitude. That's where boldness and courage is required, both sides should show that," Musharraf said in a wide-ranging interview to private 'Geo' TV channel telecast today (May 27, 2004).

Musharraf said he has already spoken to Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. "...now that I have spoken to her and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, I must say that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was extremely positive towards a dialogue process, resolution of disputes, harmonious relations between the two countries."

Asked whether he has spoken to former prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee after the polls, he said, "No I haven't, but I very much intend on doing it in these very days."

Musharraf said Manmohan Singh told him that "he is an economist, and he believes in economy doing well for the people of two countries. I said I totally agree with you that can only happen when we solve the political disputes."

Significantly, the General came out with a complex response to External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh's remarks that Simla Agreement would form basis for resolving issues between India and Pakistan.

"Well, I believe I am a very pragmatic person. I believe in realities on ground. Every agreement is interpreted differently by different people, different Governments...every word is interpreted differently by both sides, so I really don't know what is the meaning by in light of Simla Agreement," he said.

"If he (Natwar Singh) is meaning that there will be no movement or a status quo decision, well I beg to totally differ with him. That is not the solution, if the LoC (line of control) is to be made permanent and that is all well that is not at all the solution.

"If he is meaning this that we will go by Simla Agreement, then I don't agree with him, but if he means that we need to address this issue of Kashmir and solve it through dialogue, then yes we will follow the Simla Agreement. So I really don't know what the issue of Simla Agreement is," Musharraf said.

Asked whether he was sorry that Vajpayee with whom he had certain degree of rapport and friendship lost the elections, Musharraf declined to react, saying that polls were an "internal dynamics" of India.

Replying to a question, Musharraf said he was "reasonably sure" that Sonia Gandhi with whom he had a telephonic talk two days ago was in favour of India-Pak dialogue.

When asked whether he believed that working with Congress was more difficult than with BJP, he said, "...I'm very reasonably sure, Congress, madam Sonia Gandhi, has always been in favour of a dialogue with Pakistan and resolution of disputes and harmonious relations with the two countries." He also recollected his meeting with her and Manmohan Singh before the Agra summit.

Denying that he was concerned by the defeat of Vajpayee Government, he said, "...there were lots of ups and downs, so I'm sure we'll try to make up with the new Government."

Asked whether he had broad understanding with Vajpayee to resolve Kashmir, Musharraf said, "I had laid down myself four steps to it, I had told that to Prime Minister Vajpayee the only logical way of handling the situation is to start the dialogue first and then in dialogue we accept the reality that we need to accept all issues including the core issue of Kashmir.

"Then step three, we get together and eliminate whatever is unacceptable to India, Pakistan and the people of Kashmir and lastly bring out a solution which is acceptable to all the parties."

To a question whether it was favoured by Vajpayee, he said, "Well, Prime Minister Vajpayee was a man of a few words. I would say so I think he accepted whatever I said, not that he said so that we will go forward on this path, but I mean this is the only logical path. So he kept quiet, quietness may be meaning that yes, this is the only logical path."