Pakistan calls for mediation over dispute with India

MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan -- Pakistan's president accused India of "state terrorism" in Kashmir and called Tuesday for international mediation to resolve the crisis that has threatened war between the South Asian neighbors.

In a televised address marking Kashmir Solidarity Day, President Pervez Musharraf accused the Indian army of "unprecedented suppression and human rights violations" in the part of Kashmir under India's control.

He also said India was engaged in a "sinister worldwide campaign to denigrate and malign the Kashmiri freedom movement," which India denounces as a terrorist movement.

In New Delhi, Indian External Affairs Ministry spokeswoman Nirupama Rao said Musharraf's statements were "untenable" and raised questions about Pakistan's sincerity in fighting terrorism.

The Pakistani president delivered his remarks before the parliament of the part of Kashmir controlled by Pakistan.

In a statement released before the speech, Musharraf said India was to blame for the violence in the Himalayan territory because of its policy of repression. India blames the conflict on Islamic extremists supported by Pakistan.

"No self-respecting people can be expected to remain unmoved while their families and friends are being killed, tortured and gang-raped, their houses burned down and humiliation of the worst kind heaped upon them through the instrument of state terrorism," Musharraf said in the statement.

Dialogue out for present

During the televised address, Musharraf said India had rejected Pakistani overtures for a dialogue on resolving the Kashmir issue, which has divided the two nations since they gained independence from Britain in 1947.

India has ruled out dialogue until Pakistan stops what India calls "cross-border terrorism."

Musharraf said efforts to solve the crisis through bilateral contacts had failed, and called on the international community to help resolve the dispute.