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Pak wants ceasefire

Pakistan would welcome a ceasefire to cool the Kashmir conflict with India and avert a wider war for which it is ready but not willing, a special envoy has said.

''We do not want a war but we are ready for a war if it is imposed,'' Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief's special envoy Mian Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri said in an interview in Rome.

Kasuri, who is travelling in Western Europe and Russia to put Pakistan's case, said that his nation favoured a ceasefire.

''We would like that because we want to de-escalate... Any responsible country would want to de-escalate and that is why all the initiatives have been taken by Pakistan so far.''

Pakistan has insisted it had no control over what it says are Muslim militants fighting for freedom in Kashmir, though Kasuri said his country had 'good relations' with the guerrillas and was prepared to talk to them.

But Kasuri, who is a member of Parliament, said outside help was vital.

''The irony is that the disputes between India and Pakistan have only been settled by third party mediation,'' he said.

Kasuri said India itself had violated the Line of Control several times and insisted Pakistan had no troops on the Indian side of the LoC. ''They are freedom fighters,'' he said.

It was essential for the international community to help India and Pakistan resolve the conflict, but in the long term the voice of the Kashmiris had to be heard, he said.

''The core issue of Kashmir needs to be tackled and the wishes of the Kashmiris have to be taken into consideration,'' he argued.

''All the diplomatic efforts are being made by Pakistan. We have a just and fair case -- we can face the world,'' he said. ''The Indians have only one answer and that is 'no': no to Clinton, no to the United Nations, no to everybody.''

UNI

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