Musharraf accepts Indian invite

Right-wing Hindu activists are opposed to the visit

By Zaffar Abbas in Islamabad

Pakistan's military ruler, General Pervez Musharraf, has formally sent his reply to invitation from Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to talks in Delhi.

I accept your invitation to me and my wife to visit India with great pleasure

General Pervez Musharraf

In a letter, he has accepted the invitation to visit along with his wife and has offered to hold talks on Kashmir as well as on all other outstanding issues.

Like Prime Minister Vajpayee's letter of invitation, General Musharraf's reply does not mention any dates for the proposed meeting.

Instead, the response focuses on Pakistan's eagerness to start a peace process.

General Musharraf says in his letter that Pakistan has always sought to establish tension-free and co-operative relations with India so that the people of the two countries may devote more resources and energy on economic and social development.

The letter says that Pakistan wishes to see a stable and prosperous India at peace with its neighbours.

Kashmir

General Musharraf reminds Prime Minister Vajpayee that the dispute over Kashmir is the root cause of tension between the two countries and says he looks forward to having a discussion on the issue.

I therefore look forward to sincere and candid discussions with you to resolve the issue... in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people.

General Musharraf

At the same time, the letter says that Pakistan is willing to discuss all other outstanding issues - something that the Indian side had been focusing on.

Earlier, in an interview with the BBC, General Musharraf had said there was a need for the two sides to show some flexibility in their stated positions on Kashmir in order to resolve the outstanding dispute.