Gen. Musharraf

NEW YORK: Acknowledging that there is ``unease'' among intelligence agencies over the establishment of an Indo-Pak anti-terror mechanism, President Pervez Musharraf has said Pakistan has "certain apprehensions" over New Delhi sharing information on Balochistan.

Days after his talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Havana, where the two leaders agreed to set up the mechanism, Gen. Musharraf told reporters here on Wednesday that the two leaders faced difficulties in their own countries from extremists who did not want the Kashmir issue resolved.

Balochistan issue

Asked about the unease among the intelligence agencies over creation of the anti-terror mechanism, under which Indian security institutions would share intelligence with their Pakistani counterparts, he said those feelings were mutual. ``There was also a certain apprehension about India sharing intelligence on Balochistan, for instance.

However, institutional mechanisms would be created to address issues of mutual concern," he said.

Observing that the leadership of both countries desired peace, he expressed the hope that Dr. Singh would help keep the peace process on track.

Gen. Musharraf said there were many proposals on Kashmir. India did not want a redrawing of the borders, Pakistan did not recognise the `Line of Control' and was concerned that it would be made a permanent border and then there were proposals that steps be taken to make it irrelevant, he said.

Emphasising that proposals needed to be crystallised, he said: "With the right political will, solution could be found despite extremists on both sides.''

"My offer rejected"

Asked who could be behind the July 11 carnage by terrorists in Mumbai or whether that was a consequence of the unresolved dispute over Jammu and Kashmir, he said he did not know.

He had proposed a joint investigation into the matter but his proposals were categorically rejected and he did not know why. "So I do not know who was responsible," he said.

— PTI

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