Islamabad: The Kashmir issue figured in talks on Sunday between Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who hailed the Pakistani leader's efforts to resolve of all disputes with India and pledged to bolster support for fighting Islamic extremism.
Musharraf identified the Palestine problem as the 'core issue' whose resolution, he said, could turn the downsliding of the situation in Iraq, Lebenon and Afghanistan and beef up efforts for the war on terrorism.
Addressing a joint press conference with Blair in Lahore, Musharraf said he apprised the British leader about the progress in resolving 'disputes' with India. "On our relations with India, I did inform the Prime Minister of the developments and way forward and the desire that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and myself, we both are showing towards resolution of all disputes which included Siachen, Sir Creek and Kashmir," he said.
In response, Blair said he paid 'tribute to the President and his work in relationship with India today, which is allowing all outstanding issues including Kashmir in a different and better way'.
"I have always believed and told the Prime Minister (Blair) and he also agrees totally that the core to resolving this dispute (terrorism) lies in resolution of the Palestinian dispute," Musharraf said.
"That will unhinge whatever is happening in Iraq or Lebanon or create effects in Afghanistan and against international terrorism. The whole knot of terrorism will be untied through first resolving Palestinian dispute, that is what I believe and Blair totally agree with that," he said.
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