New Delhi, June 02: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee tonight said if talks were to resume with Pakistan on the Kashmir issue, it has to be on the one-third portion of Kashmir which was under Pakistani occupation. "We have had talks on Kashmir earlier also. If we were to start with Kashmir, then we have to start with that part of the Kashmir which is under Pakistani occupation," Vajpayee told reporters on his return here from a week-long tour of Germany, France and Russia. Vajpayee's remarks came in response to a question whether taking up the Kashmir issue would place a hurdle in the talks with Pakistan as was witnessed at the Agra summit. On the peace process initiated by him with Pakistan, the Prime Minister said: "This is the beginning. The talks can start only after cross-border terrorism ends." He said all the five permanent members of the UN Security Council also agreed that cross-border terrorism should stop and conducive atmosphere present for resumption of talks.

Asked whether US President George W Bush would pressurise Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf to end cross-border terrorism, the Prime Minister said it was not a question of exerting pressure.

"Bush's saying he would take up the matter with Musharraf (in Washington this month) is itself a pressure," Vajpayee said.

The Prime Minister termed as "very good" his talks with world leaders during his talks in Germany, St Petersburg and Evian (France).

Vajpayee was received at the airport by Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, his Cabinet colleagues, three defence chiefs and senior officials.

Bureau Report