PARIS, July 2: President Pervez Musharraf reiterated on Wednesday Islamabad’s willingness in principle to send peacekeepers to Iraq in response to US and British requests, but said a deal had not yet been reached.

“In principle, we agree to send forces, but there are certain modalities, certain contentious issues which need to be looked into before we take this decision,” Gen Musharraf told reporters after two-hour talks with French President Jacques Chirac.

President Musharraf said the Kashmir dispute also came under discussion during talks, and that he had asked the French leader to convey his position on the issue to Indian National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra due in Paris next week.

He highlighted the importance of resolution of Kashmir dispute for a lasting peace in South Asia. Pakistan stood for peace in the region, the president said, adding that determination and sincerity was needed to address the Kashmir issue.

On the Middle East, he told reporters that Pakistan “needs to reconsider its relationship with Israel” but said any talk of official recognition of the Jewish state was premature.

“We have to develop a national consensus before action can be taken on this,” he said.

“The Pakistani nation has to decide our future relationship with Israel, so I think as far as recognition is concerned, it is not on the cards as yet.”

President Musharraf said he had “excellent” talks on a wide range of issues and had unanimity of views.

“We discussed measures against terrorism, economic issues and defence related matters,” he told reporters.

“We discussed international and regional issues and also matters of bilateral importance. There was a complete unanimity of views between the two sides,” Gen Musharraf said.

According to French President’s spokeswoman Catherine Colonna the two leaders discussed the global fight against terrorism, specifically the trial of three militants sentenced to death by an anti-terrorism court in Karachi earlier this week for their involvement in a bombing that killed 11 French engineers last year.

The French leader reiterated his support for an “increased role for the United Nations” in Iraq, Ms Colonna added.

President Musharraf also extended an invitation to President Chirac to visit Pakistan.

The president was assisted at the talks by Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz and Foreign Secretary Riaz Khokar and Pakistan Ambassador to Paris Musa Javed.

President Musharraf kicked off a three-day visit to France by meeting with President Chirac and having lunch at the Elysee presidential palace.

Gen Musharraf was due to attend a dinner later in the day hosted by French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin.

He is also due to meet French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin and parliamentary deputies, and attend a conference on investment in Pakistan organized by French business leaders before heading home on Friday.

“Ongoing dialogue with Pakistan is necessary for the stability of south Asia,” French foreign ministry spokesman Herve Ladsous said ahead of President Musharraf’s visit.

“We welcome and support President Musharraf’s efforts to combat terrorist elements in the region — those threatening Pakistan’s interests at home and those threatening neighbouring areas like Kashmir and Afghanistan,” he said.

The foreign ministry spokesman also hailed Gen Musharraf’s efforts to slash the country’s debt and attract investment for its struggling economy and make good on his promises to restore democracy.

FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE: President Pervez Musharraf has said that major Western countries could help in nuclear non-proliferation of South Asia by ensuring conventional military balance between Pakistan and India.