LAHORE, Feb 25: Underscoring the need for settling all outstanding disputes between India and Pakistan through mutual dialogue, Communist Party of India (CPI) Secretary General A.B. Bardhan has rejected the idea of a "third country mediation" to effect peace between the two South Asian neighbours.

"The Indian left has always been of the position that whatever disputes are there between India and Pakistan, and I repeat all of them, including the most important one that is Kashmir, should be settled through dialogue. No war, direct or proxy, can resolve disputes," Mr Bardhan told a press conference on Friday.

He said the Indian left had always opposed the "language of war" used by Indian politicians against Pakistan. "We have always held the position that there should be no threat of war between them. When senior BJP leaders talked of a preemptive action (against Pakistan) while they were in power, we opposed it.

We told them that it was not the language to solve the problems. We also opposed deployment of army across the borders because it could end in a disaster. Two armies cannot stand in an eyeball-to-eyeball position without anything serious happening."

"Although one would want resolution of the disputes between India and Pakistan on a fast track, the settlement will take time. The disputes must be settled through mutual negotiations.

No third party mediation is needed. We are capable of settling our own problems. Our leaders are mature enough to handle our problems. No intervention is needed from anyone," he said.

Answering a question about the Baglihar Dam controversy, he said the "road to settlement was not a rosy path". "There will be roadblocks. The Baglihar Dam issue is also a roadblock. But it should be resolved through talks instead of going to international courts. Such an action will cause the issue to linger on for a long time."

Mr Bardhan appreciated the series of confidence-building measures (CBMs), including the expected launch of bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad, taken by India and Pakistan to improve relations.

He said few problems had been resolved one way or the other. He was of the opinion that the series of CBMs would no doubt pave the way for a final discussion on "naughty problems". He also called upon India and Pakistan to show "flexibility and accommodation" for the improvement of bilateral ties, and push forward ongoing trade talks between them.

He was hopeful that the two countries would also agree to launch a bus service between Amritsar-Lahore-Nankana Sahib and a train service to connect Sindh and Rajasthan.

"These are all very auspicious signs (for improved Indo-Pakistan relations)," he said. He also mentioned the proposed Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline, saying it would benefit all three countries.

Mr Bardhan is visiting Pakistan along with CPI-M Secretary General Harkishan Singh Surjit, who could not attend the press conference due to indisposition. Mr Surjit was based in Lahore as secretary of the undivided CPI before independence. It is his first visit here since 1947. He could not visit Pakistan before because neither the Indian nor Pakistan government would allow him.

He said once the Saarc nations had settled all their bilateral issues peacefully, they could challenge underdevelopment in the region and work for prosperity and progress. He expressed the hope that "all of us would cooperate with one another so that India and Pakistan could live together peacefully and prosper".

The CPI leader also voiced his opposition to the arms race between Pakistan and India. "There should be no arms race between the two countries. You cannot talk peace and go on acquiring weapons. It applies to both India and Pakistan."