Islamabad, June 18: High level peace talks between nuclear-armed Pakistan and India could take place this year provided New Delhi reciprocates confidence-building measures, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf said.
''I think there will be,'' Musharraf told a news channel in an interview telecast today when asked about the possibility of talks this year. ''Pakistan leadership certainly wants it. It depends on the other side whether they want to extend the other hand also.”
''...If they take one step, we'll take two steps towards peace,'' he said.
''There is no infiltration going on at the moment absolutely,'' he said. ''There is nothing happening, there is no official patronage, there is no government patronage on anything.''
Musharraf, a general who took power in a 1999 coup, blamed India for dragging its feet on measures to boost trust and confidence, saying New Delhi was yet to respond to steps suggested by Pakistan.
''Nothing has happened because they have not replied. The ball is entirely in their court,'' he said, adding reciprocation was important as it would help the government to influence elements sympathetic to the Kashmir cause in Pakistan.
''Unless there is reciprocation, all that we try to do in Pakistan gets to a nought. There are definitely some elements sympathetic to the freedom struggle in Kashmir. These very elements then start blaming the government for a sellout.''
He is currently on an overseas tour that's taking him to Britain, Germany, France and the United States.
Bureau Report