Pakistan renews Kashmir talks offer

Ninety people have died in this week's violence

Pakistan's military ruler has renewed his offer of talks with India on the Kashmir issue, after the worst day of separatist violence in Indian-administered Kashmir for a decade.

It is up to India and Pakistan together to take this opportunity and initiate the process of dialogue towards an ultimate resolution of this long-standing dispute

General Pervez Musharraf

General Pervez Musharraf told BBC News Online in a live webcast that a ceasefire offer in Kashmir had presented "a window of opportunity" to India and Pakistan.

The offer was made by prominent militant group Hizbul Mujahideen last week.

"It is up to India and Pakistan together to take this opportunity and initiate the process of dialogue towards an ultimate resolution of this long-standing dispute," General Musharraf said.

Violent day

At least 90 people were killed on Tuesday in the single-worst day of violence in Indian-administered Kashmir since 1990.

The violence began only hours after an alliance of militant separatist groups publicly rejected the idea of joining a ceasefire called by the largest group, Hizbul Mujahideen.

Separatist militants opened fire in a busy marketplace in Pahalgam, killing 30 people and injuring many others.

India says the violence was aimed at derailing Kashmir peace talks

Pahalgam lies on the route to the holy Hindu cave shrine of Amarnath, which is visited by thousands of devotees every year.

Later the same day, 19 Hindu labourers were killed at a brick kiln in Mir Bazar, in the Anantnag district south of the capital, Srinagar.

On Wednesday morning, militants killed at least 29 Hindus in the Doda region of southern Kashmir.

And within a few hours, a former militant and six members of his family were killed in Baramullah district.

Kashmir talks

Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee accused militant groups backed or protected by Pakistan for the incidents.

But General Musharraf denied the charge, saying Delhi always blamed its neighbour for such incidents.

He said his country wanted peace and he was ready to negotiate on Kashmir anywhere in the world at any time.

"The ball is in India's court now," he said.

For his part, Mr Vajpayee has said India is determined to pursue the peace process and would not be cowed by terrorism.

The Hizbul Mujahideen militants have themselves indicated that they will not allow the latest killings to derail peace attempts.