Saturday, September 16 2006 14:12 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Havana: Pakistan and India have a 'historic opportunity' now that they should seize to restart negotiations on the Kashmir issue, Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf said.

"A historic opportunity exists that must be seized by the leadership of the two countries," he said at the Non-Aligned Movement summit yesterday.



Musharraf said the two countries should put their full energy into making progress on the dispute, and called for the 118-nation NAM to establish a mechanism for conflict resolution.

On Tuesday, he said in Brussels that peace was within reach in Kashmir and asked India to seize the opportunity.

"I sincerely believe that today opportunity exists and it must be seized to resolve the dispute through peaceful dialogue," he said at a conference on Kashmir at the European Parliament.

He said improved relations between India and Pakistan, as well as a conducive international environment, could help improve dialogue over Kashmir if regional leaders are sincere, flexible and bold.

"Leaders who cannot grasp fleeting opportunity are no leaders," he said.

AP adds: Musharraf told the NAM summit that Pakistan is determined to resolve all its disputes with India, including Kashmir.

"Pakistan is making sincere efforts to promote peace and cooperation in South Asia," he said.