PM links troop cut to terror plug

Continuing violence and terrorism in the state, however, ‘‘imposes a burden on the security forces,’’ the Prime Minister said.

Dispelling the perception that talks with Pakistan here have hit a roadblock, Singh pointed to a renewed assurance from Musharraf on Wednesday that ‘‘violence will come down’’.

‘‘I am impressed by the President’s unambiguous commitment to put in place a system that will bring cross-border terrorism under effective control,’’ Singh said. ‘‘If infiltration comes down, we will ensure there is a reduction of troops from Kashmir,’’ he added.

The prospects of additional steps by both sides in relation to Jammu and Kashmir, provides a constructive setting for the Saturday talks between Musharraf and the Mirwaiz.

When asked if Musharraf’s remarks on Kashmir at the Untied Nations had complicated Indo-Pak talks, Singh said he was ‘‘surprised by the reference’’.

But he added that Musharraf had clarified that ‘‘it was not his intention to give the impression that he wanted to take the Kashmir question to the United Nations Security Council’’.

On his part, Musharraf too was conciliatory at a press conference in the United Nations yesterday. Musharraf insisted that there is forward movement in the peace process with India and that complex issues would take time to resolve.

Musharraf expressed optimism that ‘‘India’s concerns on cross-border violence and Pakistan’s concerns on human rights violations in Kashmir’’ can both be addressed simultaneously. Describing his talks with Musharraf as ‘‘an essay in mutual comprehension’’, Singh said there was a full discussion ‘‘of each other’s compulsions’’.