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Blair To Musharraf: Initiation of Dialogue Crucial
Tuesday, January 8, 2002
By Aamir Latif
Islam Online correspondent

... there could be a way out provided that both sides were very clear on the condemnation of terrorism and that the difficult issue of Kashmir could only be resolved through dialogue.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- Islam Online
British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, who arrived in Pakistan from New Delhi Monday afternoon on the last leg of his visit to South Asia, laid emphasis on the initiation of dialogue between Pakistan and India for resolving the Kashmir dispute and addressing the issue of terrorism.

Both Blair and Pakistani President, General Pervez Musharraf, led their respective delegations during the formal talks which lasted for one and half hours and discussed the mounting tension between Pakistan and India and situation in Afghanistan in detail.

Later, addressing a press conference at Aiwan-i-Sadar along with Musharaff on Monday, the British Premier said that his Indian counterpart, Atal Behari Vajpayee, was willing to have "meaningful" and "comprehensive" dialogue with Pakistan exclusively on the basis of peaceful means.

"I also emphasized, to President Musharraf as I did to Prime Minister Vajpayee, the desire of the U.K. and the international community to see the current tensions reduced,” Blair said.
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