Kashmiri militant rejects Pakistan's unity call

"Pakistan desires separatist unity," said Syed Ali Geelani, head of the revolt-hit region's hardline faction of the main separatist alliance Hurriyat.

"But I can't break my principles to forge unity for the sake of unity," he told the local Current News Service.

Geelani said Musharraf told him during a three-day visit to New Delhi that ended Monday to join forces with moderate separatists to present a united secessionist front.

Hardliners broke away from Hurriyat in 2003 after moderates, led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, said they were open to talks with New Delhi.

Both factions claim to be the real Hurriyat.

Musharraf said in a broadcast by Pakistan TV late Monday that Indian Kashmir separatist leaders should use "their brains" and join talks with India as it would be a step toward trilateral talks, the Press Trust of India reported.

The interview with Current News Service contained no separatist reaction to the Press Trust of Indian report.