Peace talks must include Pak-held Kashmir: Vajpayee

"If we are to start talks with Pakistan, then we have to start with that part of Kashmir which is under Pakistani occupation," the Press Trust of India quoted Atal Behari Vajpayee as saying.

India controls almost a half of Kashmir and China also holds a small percentage.

Tap Here to Add The Daily Star As A Trusted Source

Vajpayee also said that talks between the two nuclear-armed rivals could only begin after Islamabad cracked down on Muslim militants operating from its soil in mainly Muslim Kashmir.

"Talks can start only after cross-border terrorism ends," PTI quoted Vajpayee, who had returned from talks with G8 leaders, as saying.

India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars since independence in 1947 over Kashmir, and went to the bring of a fourth last year, after a bloody attack on the Indian parliament which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan-based Kashmiri militants.

Vajpayee launched a new peace initiative with Pakistan in April, restoring full diplomatic relations and bus and air links as a prelude to peace talks.