Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf has offered to hold "unconditional" talks with India's prime minister to resolve the tense military standoff between the two nuclear-armed rivals.
He also welcomed moves by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who meets both General Musharraf and Indian leader Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee tomorrow, to mediate between them.
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Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee arrives at Almaty airport yesterday. Photo: Reuters 2002
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But Mr Vajpayee, demanding an end to cross-border raids by Islamic militants, has so far ruled out a face-to-face meeting during a 16-nation Asian security summit in Kazakhstan.
India and Pakistan have massed about a million troops along their border since a December attack on the Indian parliament which New Delhi blames on Pakistan-based militants fighting its rule in divided Kashmir.
Tensions flared again after militants raided an Indian army camp in Kashmir on May 14th, killing more than 30 people. However, both countries have also ruled out using nuclear weapons in the latest flare-up in relations.
Gen Musharraf has said he has proposed meeting Mr Vajpayee several times without success. Mr Vajpayee told reporters before leaving India for Kazakhstan: "There is no such plan."
They last exchanged a cold handshake and a few words in Nepal in January.
Asked at a news briefing today under what conditions he would be willing to talk to Mr Vajpayee, the Pakistan military ruler replied: "Unconditional. You need to ask that question to Prime Minister Vajpayee. I have no conditions."
Mr Putin hopes to bring them together to end a confrontation the international community fears could set off a nuclear war, and Gen Musharraf was extremely positive about his potential role.
"Yes, surely I will meet him (Putin)," he told the same news briefing. "I am extremely privileged that he has asked me to meet him. I would like to contribute my utmost to his efforts to reduce tensions."
Fresh tension erupted today as officials said a Pakistani soldier was killed when the two sides exchanged heavy mortar, machinegun and small arms fire.
Officials and witnesses said four Pakistanis and an Indian woman were killed in exchanges around the Kashmir region yesterday.