Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf urged India to enter talks with Pakistan "without any delay," accusing New Delhi of avoiding peace negotiations between the nuclear rivals, a newspaper reported yesterday.
"The ball is in [the] Indian court, and it is up to them to sit across the table for resolving all outstanding issues including the core Kashmir problem," Musharraf was quoted as saying in an interview with The News, a Pakistani daily.
India and Pakistan have fought three wars since they gained independence from Britain in 1947 -- two them over Kashmir, which is divided between them and claimed by both in its entirety.
The South Asian neighbors have recently taken small steps to ease tension, including restoration of diplomatic ties and travel links, though these overtures have failed to produce face-to-face talks.
Musharraf said India was avoiding negotiations.
"Pakistan has always given positive response to any call for dialogue, and I believe the talks must start without any delay," he was quoted as saying.
Last month, Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said talks would go ahead only when Pakistan stops cross-border incursions by Muslim rebels into its Kashmir territory. Pakistan denies helping the rebels, who are fighting for independence of the territory or its merger with Pakistan, although it says it supports them diplomatically.
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