Monday, May 30 2005 19:43 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Maintaining it would be "unrealistic" to fix any time frame for resolving the vexed Kashmir issue, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (May 30, 2005) offered to work together with Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf to find "meaningful solution" to difficult problems.

In an hour-long interaction with foreign journalists based in Delhi, Singh said, he looked forward to his visit to Pakistan. "I remain firm in my conviction that we must move towards finding constructive solutions to all outstanding issues," he said when asked whether Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's recent statements relating to greater autonomy, self-governance and international supervision for J&K were realistic.

The Prime Minister was candid about the roadblocks that could confront the two sides. "I do not minimise the difficulties that lie ahead".

Observing that the Kashmir problem has defied solution for the last 57 years, Singh said, "It will be unrealistic to fix any timeframe" for resolving it. "I do believe that we have moved forward. We have today an atmosphere where we can start discussing basic problems," he said while responding to a range of questions on India's relations with the US, China and neighbouring countries including Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Myanmar.

Asking Pakistan to honour its commitment to quickly dismantle terrorist camps operating from that country, Singh said, "If we have a major attack like the one on Parliament or RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) headquarters or other places, that could upset the whole process".

The Prime Minister emphatically stated that the "first and foremost pre-condition" which he had conveyed to Musharraf was that "terrorist elements must be fully under control".

Observing that he was willing to discuss all issues "including what President Musharraf calls the core issue of J and K", Singh firmly ruled out further division of the Country or redrawing of boundaries.

"I will never accept anything that leads to further division of India on religious lines. I have no mandate to negotiate on redrawing our boundaries. Within these limitations, the two of us must work together to create an environment" to take the peace process forward," he said.

Singh said this required a "new pattern" of working. He felt that a lot could be done by promoting people to people contacts. "There is great scope for moving forward".