Pakistan President Gen Pervez Musharraf shares an opinion that India has invited him for talks following pressure mounted by the US as well as the attacks from the Islamic militant groups in Kashmir and ruled out any discussion on independence to the state in the forthcoming Indo-Pak summit. Reporting on Tuesday's meeting between Gen Musharraf and senior editors of Pakistani newspapers, a Pakistan daily said on Wednesday that the military ruler agreed with an opinion expressed by an editor that Indians faced pressure from US to negotiate and resolve issues with Pakistan.
He also agreed that Vajpayee could not have invited him for talks had there been no pressure by the international community, it said. Gen Musharraf has also said that the struggle by the "jihadi" groups had also contributed to the Indian realisation that New Delhi should settle issues with Islamabad. A Pakistan news agency has quoted Gen Musharraf ruling out talks on the third option during his talks with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. In turn the negotiations would be 'overshadowed' by the core issue of Kashmir, he told the editors.
Some of the editors who took part in Gen Musharraf's meeting said that the military ruler has assured them that he would not have any secret understanding with India on Kashmir, Siachen or any other issue during his meeting with Vajpayee and he would try his best to meet Hurriyat Conference leaders during his stay in New Delhi. Bureau Report