Pakistan still 'hopeful' on Kashmir

India implemented a ceasefire last week

Pakistan's military ruler General Musharraf has said he still hopes for a positive response from India to calls for Pakistani involvement in talks on the future of Kashmir.

We are hoping for maybe a positive response in the future.

General Musharraf

In a statement reported by the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan news agency, General Musharraf said that he was a "little disappointed" by an Indian statement on Tuesday which rejected talks with Pakistan on the disputed territory.

However, he said he thought that "the doors are still not fully closed."

"I am expecting the [Indian] prime minister to respond," said General Musharraf.

Last week, India implemented a unilateral ceasefire against Kashmiri militant groups for the month of Ramadan - which it subsequently said might be extended.

And Pakistan announced it was observing "maximum restraint" along the frontline with Indian forces.

Talks awaited

Indian Foreign ministry spokesman, Raminder Singh Jassal, said on Tuesday that Delhi was not prepared to involve Pakistan in three-way talks with Kashmiri separatist groups.

Abdul Ghani Bhat: No meeting with senior leaders

One report from Delhi said that talks between the Indian Government and militant groups had also yet to materialise.

According to the French news agency AFP, senior Kashmiri separatist figures arrived in Delhi for talks three days ago - but had yet to establish contact with Indian leaders.

"We have not met anybody," Abdul Gani Bhat, chairman of the All Party Hurriyat Conference said.

AFP reported that they were unlikely to meet senior politicians - but would have talks with middle-ranking officials.

'Militants killed'

Indian officials said on Wednesday that security forces in Jammu and Kashmir had clashed with a group of suspected militants allegedly trying to infiltrate from Pakistan.

The bodies of 12 suspected militants had so far been recovered.

There have been regular clashes involving militants and the security forces despite the ceasefire declared by India.

Kashmir, India's only Muslim-majority state, has been at the centre of two out of three wars between India and Pakistan.