NEW DELHI, April 12: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said he was prepared to discuss the Kashmir dispute with President Pervez Musharraf during his upcoming three-day visit to India. “Though it is not a state visit and an informal one, we are prepared to discuss anything our honoured guest wants to raise including Kashmir, further confidence-building measures and having a common security,” Mr Singh was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India.

Gen Musharraf, who will be in New Delhi on Sunday to watch the final one-day cricket international between the two nuclear rivals, will also meet with Mr Singh.

“We expect a purposeful dialogue,” the Indian prime minister said.—AFP

Jawed Naqvi adds: Pakistan’s envoy in New Delhi Aziz Ahmed Khan said on Tuesday that President Gen Pervez Musharraf’s expected emphasis on Kashmir in talks here next week should not be seen as any reflection of impatience on Pakistan’s part but as an expression of the fact that it was the most important issue between the two countries.

“When leaders meet all issues are discussed...I’m giving a straight answer. When leaders meet all issues are discussed, there is no fixed agenda. Obviously Kashmir is the most important issue,” Mr Khan told NDTV news channel in an interview.

Gen Musharraf accompanied by Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri will begin a three-day visit on April 16 during which he will spend one hour watching the last one-day cricket match between India and Pakistan in New Delhi.

Mr Khan said that it’s good that leaders meet frequently as the two countries have embarked upon a peace process and are serious about the resolution of all issues.

“The high-level interaction is important as decisions are taken, things are discussed and guidelines given on how to take the process forward,” said Mr Khan, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India.

“I think in that sense this is an important visit and all subjects will be discussed including Kashmir.”

It is the principal problem between the two countries and its non-resolution has bedevilled relations over the last 57 years.

“This is the most complicated problem. Others can take a normal course but special attention is required for this and it will be good that both sides are discussing this.”

Told that the two countries are moving smoothly on other fronts like business, visa relaxation and cricket, Khan said: “Those are easier things, so they can go smoothly.”

Asked whether Pakistan is running out of patience when it talks of giving Kashmir special attention, Mr Khan said: “No nobody is running out of patience. We know that patience is required for the resolution of this complicated, difficult issue.

“But at the same time we know that special attention and special focus is required for it. So it’s better to keep drawing attention to that and keep our focus there as well.”