Thursday, September 14 2006 11:07 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Brussels: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf discussed India-Pakistan relations among other issues during his meeting here with European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana.

Solana and Musharraf made no statements to journalists after they emerged from a two-hour luncheon meeting here yesterday (Sept 13, 2006), but Solana's spokesperson Cristina Gallach told INEP agency that the visiting Pakistani president briefed Solana on the ongoing dialogue with India.

He told the EU foreign policy chief that never before had relations with India been so good, but he would like to see more progress.

"We have to support this composite dialogue. We fully support the maximum efforts done by both sides for the composite dialogue to reach as much result as possible," said Gallach.

She noted that there has been a lot of progress on confidence building measures between India and Pakistan. She added: "We would of course like this to continue and to see a negotiated agreement" to resolve the Kashmir problem.

The 25-member EU and Pakistan signed and ratified a cooperation agreement in 2004 but it has not been implemented formally due to the issue of agreement on re-admission of illegal immigrants that Islamabad has not signed yet, she said, adding that this problem was expected to be resolved very soon.

Solana and Musharraf also discussed Iran, Afghanistan and the situation in the Middle East.

Earlier, Musharraf met President of the European Parliament Josep Borrell, who told the press that Musharraf "was congratulated in his successes in a number of areas, specially his work in building a better relationship with Kashmir, his fight against terrorism and his improvements in Pakistan's economic positions".

"Some issues were raised, especially human rights and democracy, also nuclear proliferation," said Borrell.

Musharraf said: "We are also extremely glad at the developing relations between Pakistan and the European Union. We have the desire to enhance this relationship and, in my interaction today, I have tried to project Pakistan's contribution in the fight against terrorism and extremism."

Borrell said the Pakistani president explained "the strong engagement of the Pakistani army in the fight against terrorism and how difficult it is. No other country in the world has suffered so many casualties".

Musharraf said, "All Taliban are maybe Pakhtuns but all Pakhtuns are not Taliban. Therefore we need to take the majority of Pakhtuns that are not Taliban and moderates on our side to counter the military Taliban.

"I have explained that strategy and what we are doing to implement it and I think it was well received," he said.