LONDON, Nov 12: Britain’s Prime Minister Tony Blair on Monday held talks with Indian counterpart Atal Behari Vajpayee in which they discussed the disputed territory of Kashmir and the nature of a post-Taliban government in Afghanistan.

Blair avoided taking sides in the dispute over Kashmir between India and Pakistan, which is a key ally in the anti-terror coalition.

Britain is also the formal colonial power in both countries.

“The British government’s position hasn’t changed. All we want to see is tensions in the area reduced,” Blair said.

“It cannot ever be right that people pursue their cause by the slaughter of innocent civilians.”

Blair’s talks with Vajpayee followed his meeting last week with President Pervez Musharraf to discuss the war against terror.

“It is important that we maintain the strongest possible coalition against terrorism and all its forms,” Blair said. The comments were almost identical to those he made last month after talks in New Delhi with Vajpayee to shore up the coalition.

As they did then, Blair’s words on Monday will offer India some hope that the world will seriously address the Kashmir issue once it has finished with Osama bin Laden and his Taliban hosts.

In a clear reference to Pakistan, Vajpayee said: “Both our countries have been familiar with the ugly face of terrorism long before September 11.

“We have to go beyond al-Qaeda in our global war against terrorism and target all sponsors who finance, train, equip and harbour terrorists.”—AFP