BRUSSELS, June 5: An Indian offer to set up joint patrols with Pakistan in their disputed Kashmir territory could be the first step away from the brink by the two nuclear armed states, British Defence Minister Geoff Hoon said on Wednesday.

Hoon arrived here with US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to attend a meeting of NATO defense ministers on Thursday and Friday that has been overshadowed by the crisis in South Asia.

“We certainly remain very concerned at the level of preparedness on both sides of the line of control,” Hoon said, referring to the Kashmir border area where Indian and Pakistan troops are massed.

But he said: “It is encouraging that the Indians do seem prepared to look at the question of monitoring which clearly woulld be a step forward if that were agreed.”

“I think the situation is one of very grave concern,” Hoon said.

Asked whether Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf had the ability to control the movement of militants across the border, Hoon said: “It’s important that he does. We believe he should.”

Hoon said Britain and the United States had no detailed plan or roadmap for resolving the crisis because the situation was changing too quickly.

“Certainly we have had discussions with both sides on an effort (on) both sides of the line of control because that is understandably causing great concern in India,” he said.—AFP