Islamabad: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf last night (Aug 16, 2004) rated as "better" the chances of success of the peace process between his country and India due to "change in environment", following international concerns and public pressure in the two countries.

Asked about the chances of the success of the ongoing dialogue process, Gen Musharraf told an interactive programme on the state-run PTV that India-Pakistan talks have failed in the past but the environment has changed, which made him feel hopeful.

"This time, the environment has been changed. International concerns are heavy. Both of us are nuclear states and Kashmir is considered a nuclear flashpoint," he said.

Musharraf said the public opinion in both the countries wanted improvement in relations. "Locally, the public on both sides have realised that the two countries should move forward with friendship. There is lot of public pressure also in India and Pakistan to keep the relations good," he said.

There was, according to Musharraf, deterrence in both conventional and nuclear fields, which was adding to the pressure. "The deterrence is in place in both conventional and unconventional fields. We are beyond coercion and beyond pressure. So, the environment has changed," he said.

He said Pakistan on its part was sincere and India also approached the dialogue with certain degree of sincerity.

"We are sincere on our side. From the other side, the feelers are that they want to discuss sincerely. Therefore we hope, we cannot give any guarantees, but we will make all efforts. We hope to find some solution," he said.

Asked whether his Government was in touch with the leaders of Jammu and Kashmir's separatist amalgam Hurriyat Conference and which faction of Hurriyat he backed, Musharraf said his Government was in touch with a number of leaders in Jammu and Kashmir and considered Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Yasin Malik and Shabbir Shah as leaders with good following.

"We are very much in contact with everyone. We know what exactly is happening and who is who. One has to understand who is who and who has grassroot following and who does not have grassroot following.

"Certainly. Geelani Sahib has lot of following at the grassroots. Yasin Malik and Shabbir Shah, their grassroot following is very good. There are others," he said adding, "one has to see whose grassroots are heavy and who is moving with what name," he said.

"We understand everything," he said.

Asked when his Government would reopen Khokhrapar and Munabao bus service connecting Pakistan's Sindh with India's Rajasthan, he said talks were going on between India and Pakistan. Visas too could become easier when both the countries open the Consulates in Karachi and Mumbai.

However, he said, the confidence-building measures and dialogue to resolve all issues, including Kashmir, have to go on simultaneously.