ISLAMABAD, Jan 13: Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee met President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Saturday, shortly after his arrival here to review the progress in peace talks between the two countries, a government official said.

President Musharraf and Mukherjee discussed the core issues of Kashmir and “pledged to carry forward the peace process” the two South Asian neighbours had initiated in 2004, the official said on condition of anonymity.

The official quoted Musharraf as telling Mukherjee that the resolution of the Kashmir issue was crucial for peace in the region.

Hardline Kashmiri leaders on the Indian side on Saturday criticized the talks between New Delhi and Islamabad, saying they were fruitless and the ideas being touted, including those made by Musharaff, did not address the Kashmiri demand for self-rule.

“The people of Kashmir have not made sacrifices for self-rule, autonomy or soft borders, but for the right to self-determination,” said Syed Ali Shah Geelani, a leader of a faction of the All-Parties Hurriyat Conference.

After arriving by special aircraft at the Chaklala air base near Islamabad, Mukherjee told reporters he was optimistic for the success of the peace process under way between India and Pakistan. He said India wanted warm relations with Pakistan and that there was a need to continue the peace talks.

The visit's main purpose is to invite Pakistan to New Delhi for this April's summit of Saarc.

President Musharraf will skip it this time. Pakistan has said that since President Musharraf had already visited India, it is now Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's turn to visit Pakistan.—AP