Pranab endorses Musharraf statement

New Delhi, Feb 4 (UNI) India today endorsed Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's statement that terrorists could not be taken ''on board'' on Kashmir and said militants should be asked to give up violence.

It also hoped that the current political problems in Nepal are resolved though dialogue.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters on the sidelines of an international conference here that terrorists should be asked to give up violence and join the dialogue process.

''...Everybody should advise terrorists to give up violence and join the dialogue process,'' the External Affairs Minister said when asked his comments about Gen Musharraf's statement.

The comments came two days after President Musharraf said in the garrison town of Rawalpindi that those who believed that violence was the only option left for Kashmir solution could not be taken on board.

Hurriyat Chief Mirwaiz Omar Farooq, who last week returned from Pakistan, had also said the dialogue process be given a chance as only graveyards had been created in Kashmir because of violence.

Asked about the current political situation in Nepal, the External Affairs Minister said New Delhi was in touch with the Nepalese government and hoped that the problem would be resolved through peaceful means.

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