Musharraf wins guarded India praise

Jaswant Singh: Pakistan must also "target other groups"

India has welcomed the crackdown on militants announced by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, but said it is awaiting "concrete action" to stop cross-border "terrorism".

"We welcome the now declared commitment (by Pakistan) not to support or permit any more the use of its territory for terrorism anywhere in the world, including in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir," said Indian Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh.

New measures

Two Pakistan-based Kashmiri militant groups banned

Two hardline religious groups banned

Mosques banned from making political messages

Religious schools to be registered

He told a news conference in Delhi that India "lauded" Islamabad's ban on the militant groups Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad, which India blames for an attack on its parliament last month.

Pakistani police on Sunday sealed the offices of sectarian and Kashmiri militant organisations, detaining many activists - a day after rounding up hundreds of other suspected militants.

Mr Singh stressed that India remained committed to bilateral dialogue with Pakistan, but "rejects entirely the content of the Pakistani president's speech on the situation in Kashmir".

General Musharraf had made clear that Pakistan would maintain "moral and diplomatic" support for Kashmir self-determination.

India's foreign minister again ruled out any third-party mediation in the dispute.

"The lessening of tensions on the border is entirely dependent on the steps taken inside Pakistan to operationalise what was stated by President Musharraf.

"We have to go not by the stated intent, but by action on the ground," Mr Singh said.

Kashmir tensions

In recent weeks the two nuclear neighbours have gone to the brink of war in disputed Kashmir, moving troop reinforcements up to their common border.

Musharraf said religious schools should be reformed

Mr Singh said India was "disappointed" that Pakistan was not handing over suspects wanted by Delhi for past "terrorist" attacks.

In a televised address to the nation on Saturday, General Musharraf announced a series of measures to curb militants.

They include a ban on five groups - among them two Kashmiri separatist organisations blamed by India for the 13 December attack on the Delhi parliament.

The BBC's Adam Mynott in Delhi says India feels it has international opinion firmly behind it after the attack and will continue putting firm pressure on Pakistan.

Western praise

The United States earlier led Western praise for Mr Musharraf's speech.

The United States welcomes President Musharraf's explicit statements against terrorism and particularly notes his pledge that Pakistan will not tolerate terrorism under any pretext

Colin Powell

The White House said President Bush welcomed what he saw as the Pakistani leader's firm decision to stand against terrorism and extremism.

And the American Secretary of State, Colin Powell, who is about to visit South Asia, said the speech provided the basis for resolving tensions with India through diplomatic means.

Spain, which currently holds the European Union presidency, also welcomed General Musharraf's speech.